This article explains different ways to apply borders to documents in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2019 for Mac, and Word 2016 for Mac.

What to Know

  • To apply a border to a section, select the text and go to Borders > Borders and Shading > Borders > border style options > OK.For a whole page, go to Insert > Text Box > Draw Text Box and format the text box border as desired. You can also add a border to table cells or an entire table.

Apply a Border to a Section of Text

When you design a Microsoft Word document, you can apply a border to an entire page or a smaller text section. The software makes it possible for you to choose a simple or more complex border style and custom color and size. This capability makes certain sections of your document stand out. Here’s how to apply a border to a section of a Word document.

  • Highlight the portion of the document you want to surround with a border, such as a block of text.
  • On the ribbon, select Home.
  • In the Paragraph group, select Borders.
  • Select Borders and Shading.
  • In the Borders and Shading dialog box, select the Borders tab.
  • In the Style list, choose a line style.
  • Select the Color drop-down arrow and choose a color for the border.
  • Select the Width drop-down arrow and choose a width for the border.
  • In the Preview section, select the sides of the box to apply the border to those sides of the selected text. Or, in the Settings section, select a preset border.
  • To fine-tune the border, select Options and make your selections in the Border and Shading Options dialog box.
  • In the Preview section, select the Apply to drop-down arrow and choose Paragraph (or Text if you highlighted part of a paragraph).
  • Select OK.
  • The border surrounds the text you initially selected.

Apply a Border to a Whole Page of Text

Here are the steps to apply a border to a Word document page. The process is different from the one above in that there should be no existing text when you start. Instead, you’ll create the border and insert the text later.

Highlight the portion of the document you want to surround with a border, such as a block of text.

On the ribbon, select Home.

In the Paragraph group, select Borders.

Select Borders and Shading.

In the Borders and Shading dialog box, select the Borders tab.

In the Style list, choose a line style.

Select the Color drop-down arrow and choose a color for the border.

Select the Width drop-down arrow and choose a width for the border.

In the Preview section, select the sides of the box to apply the border to those sides of the selected text. Or, in the Settings section, select a preset border.

To fine-tune the border, select Options and make your selections in the Border and Shading Options dialog box.

In the Preview section, select the Apply to drop-down arrow and choose Paragraph (or Text if you highlighted part of a paragraph).

Select OK.

The border surrounds the text you initially selected.

  • Open a new Word document.
  • On the ribbon, select Insert.
  • In the Text group, select Text Box.
  • Select Draw Text Box. The cursor becomes a drawing tool.
  • Draw a text box the size you want on the page, leaving margins.
  • Go to the Shape Format tab and, in the Shape Styles group, select Shape Outline.
  • Select Weight > More Lines.
  • In the Format Shape pane, use the controls to choose how you want the border to look. When you’re satisfied with the border, in the upper-right corner of the dialog box, select X.
  • Place the cursor in the text box and write your text.

Apply a Border to a Table

You can also add a border to table cells or to an entire table.

Open a new Word document.

On the ribbon, select Insert.

In the Text group, select Text Box.

Select Draw Text Box. The cursor becomes a drawing tool.

Draw a text box the size you want on the page, leaving margins.

Go to the Shape Format tab and, in the Shape Styles group, select Shape Outline.

Select Weight > More Lines.

In the Format Shape pane, use the controls to choose how you want the border to look. When you’re satisfied with the border, in the upper-right corner of the dialog box, select X.

Place the cursor in the text box and write your text.

  • In the table, highlight the cells you want to add a border to.
  • On the ribbon, select Table Design.
  • In the Borders group, select Borders > Borders and Shading.
  • In the Borders and Shading dialog box, customize how the border looks.
  • Select OK to save your changes.
  • The border appears around the cells you highlighted.

In the table, highlight the cells you want to add a border to.

On the ribbon, select Table Design.

In the Borders group, select Borders > Borders and Shading.

In the Borders and Shading dialog box, customize how the border looks.

Select OK to save your changes.

The border appears around the cells you highlighted.

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