How to Change Font Color in Canva (Words, Boxes, Gradients)

Changing text colour is one of the first things anyone does in Canva, and also one of the most fiddly when it doesn't behave. Maybe only half a word changes, or you can't find the exact brand colour, or the colour looks different on a printed flyer. Here's how to get it right every time.

How to change font colour in Canva, step by step

1. Click the text box to select all of it, or double-click and highlight just the words you want.
2. In the toolbar, select Text color. It's the letter A with a coloured line under it.
3. Choose a colour from Document colours, your brand palette or the default colours.
4. To use an exact colour, click the plus tile to add a new colour and type in its hex code.
5. Click away from the text to finish.

Change the colour of one word, or the whole box

You want to change	Select this first
All the text in a text box	Click the text box once
One word or a few letters	Double-click into the box and highlight just those words
Several text boxes at once	Hold Shift and click each box
Every use of a colour across the design	Select the colour in the panel and look for the option to change all

Highlighting one word in a brand colour is a simple way to draw the eye to the most important part of a headline, without adding another font.

How to use your exact brand colour

Picking colours by eye leads to five slightly different blues across your posts. Use the hex code instead, which is a six-character code like the ones on your website or brand guidelines. In the colour panel, click the plus tile under Document colours to add a new colour, then type or paste the code.

Better still, save your colours in a Canva brand kit so they appear at the top of the colour panel every time. On the free plan, you can save one palette of up to three colours.

How to make gradient text

Want more than a flat colour? Select the text, open the colour tile and scroll to Gradients. Pick a preset, or build your own with your brand colours. A few limits to know: in Canva Docs, gradient text only works inside Design Blocks and Banners, and Canva notes that underline, strikethrough, superscript and subscript may only show the first colour of the gradient.

The catch: colours can look different off-screen

Two things can make your text colour look wrong after you've finished. The first is downloading: Canva says PDF and SVG files do support gradient text, but the Preview app on a Mac may show it as a solid colour. Export as PNG or JPG if you need an exact match.

The second is printing. Screens and printers make colour differently, and Canva warns that very bright screen colours, such as electric blue or hot pink, can come out softer or more muted on paper. If your text is in a bright neon shade, test print it or choose a slightly calmer version for printed designs.

Why the text colour won't change

• The text is part of an image. If you can't click into it to edit the words, it's a picture, not live text.
• The element is locked. Select it and click the lock icon in the toolbar to release it first.
• Only part of the text is selected. Click the box once, rather than inside it, to select everything.
• Brand Controls are on. On some team plans, you can only pick approved brand colours.

Colour combinations that work for business posts

If you're unsure which colours to use for text, stick to a simple rule I give clients: one dark colour for body text, one light colour for text on dark backgrounds, and one brand accent colour for the words you want people to notice. That's it. Three colours, used the same way every time. It's what makes a feed look planned rather than random, and it means you don't have to think about colour every time you design a post. Save those three in your brand kit and you'll never have to search for them again.

Choosing text colours people can read

• Dark text on light backgrounds, or light text on dark ones. Avoid mid-tones on mid-tones.
• Keep body text to one colour and use your accent colour sparingly.
• Check your design on a phone in bright light, where low contrast disappears.
• Don't rely on colour alone to show something important, for accessibility.

Readable text matters for everyone, and my post on inclusive design and accessibility explains why contrast is worth caring about.

My verdict

Select the text, click the A with the coloured bar and pick your colour. Use hex codes and a brand kit so your colours stay consistent, highlight single words for emphasis, and try gradient text for headlines. If colours look off in a PDF on a Mac or on paper, it's the viewer or the printer, not your design. For a set of on-brand starting points, try my done-for-you social media images.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the font colour button in Canva?

Select your text and look for Text color in the toolbar. It's the letter A with a coloured bar underneath.

How do I change the colour of one word in Canva?

Double-click into the text box, highlight the word, then choose a new colour with Text color.

How do I use a hex code in Canva?

In the colour panel, click the plus tile to add a new colour and type the hex code.

Can I make gradient text in Canva?

Yes. Select the text, open the colour tile and choose a gradient. In Canva Docs it works in Design Blocks and Banners only.

Why can't I change the text colour in Canva?

The text may be part of an image, the element may be locked, or Brand Controls may limit your colours.

Why does my Canva text colour look different when printed?

Printers use CMYK ink, so very bright screen colours can print softer. Use print-friendly colours or test print.