How to Add a Border in Google Docs (Paragraph, Table, Drawing)

A border is the quickest way to make a notice, a pull quote or a certificate stand out from the rest of a page. People search for this one a lot, and there's a catch: Google Docs doesn't have a single button called page border. What it does have are three routes that get you the same look, and which one you pick depends on what you're framing.

Below I've stuck to what Google's help pages describe, so you can trust the menu names. Menus vary a little between versions, and I'll flag where.

Choosing between a paragraph border, a table and a drawing

What you want	Route to use	Why
A box around a few lines of text	Paragraph border	Stays with the text as you edit
A frame around a whole page of content	One-cell table	You control the cell edges and padding
Decorative shapes or a custom frame	Drawing	Lines and shapes you place yourself

Most people want the first or second. Start with the paragraph border and only move on if it doesn't give you the look you're after.

Putting a border around a paragraph in Google Docs

This is the route Google documents in its formatting help. It works on a computer:

1. Click inside the paragraph you want to frame, or select several paragraphs.
2. Open the Format menu.
3. Choose Paragraph styles, then Borders and shading.
4. In the dialog, choose a Position: top, bottom, left, right, or between paragraph lines.
5. Set the border width, the dash style (dashed, dotted or solid) and the border colour.
6. Optionally pick a background colour and paragraph padding.
7. Select Apply.

To box in text on all four sides, set the position for each side in turn and apply the same width and colour. Doing it side by side takes a minute, but you'll get a neat rectangle that follows the text if you add or delete lines.

Taking a Google Docs paragraph border away again

Open the same Borders and shading dialog with the paragraph selected and choose Reset. Google says this removes paragraph borders and colour, and then you select Apply to confirm. If the border seems to linger, check you've selected every paragraph that carries it, because a border can sit across several.

Framing a block with a one-cell table

A table gives you a sturdy frame, and it's what I'd reach for when I'm building something like a notice for a client pack. Here's the route from Google's table help:

1. Click Insert, then Table, and choose a single cell from the grid. Google says tables can be as large as 20 x 20 cells, so one cell is well within the limit.
2. Type or paste your text into the cell.
3. Select the cell and use the toolbar buttons for border colour, border width and border dash.
4. Right-click the table and choose Table options if you want to change vertical alignment or padding inside the cell.

The drawback is that long text inside a table can behave differently at page breaks, so keep boxed content short. If you want the box to look like a card, set a background colour in the same toolbar.

Using a drawing for a decorative Google Docs frame

For a custom look, Google lets you build a drawing inside the document. Click Insert, then Drawing, then New, and use the editing tools to place shapes, lines or text. You can change line colour, thickness and style with the buttons above the canvas. It's the most flexible route and the fiddliest, so use it for a one-off graphic rather than every page.

I wouldn't build a whole certificate this way unless you enjoy fiddling. A table with a thick border is faster and easier to edit.

What to do if a Google Docs border looks wrong

• Border only shows on one side: you've set a single position. Go back into Borders and shading and set the others.
• Border touches the text: raise the paragraph padding in the same dialog.
• Border is too faint: increase the width or darken the colour.
• Border splits across two pages: keep the boxed content short, or insert a page break before it.
• Border won't print: check the colour isn't very pale, and preview with File, then Print.

Where borders help business documents most

Small business owners tend to use borders on three things: a call-out box in a proposal, a highlighted total on a quote, and a notice at the top of a handout. If you work from templates, my walkthrough of filling in a Google Docs template shows where a bordered total fits naturally.

If you're building a front page for a CV or portfolio, keep any frame light. My notes on designing a resume cover page that gets noticed explain why restraint usually works better than decoration.

Borders on a phone or tablet

I couldn't confirm a Borders and shading option in Google's mobile help, so I wouldn't count on one. Set up the border in a browser on a computer, then carry on editing on your phone. The border stays with the paragraph or table.

A quick checklist before you share a bordered document

1. Read the document once with the border showing, to be sure the text isn't cramped.
2. Check the border colour works if someone prints in black and white.
3. Preview the page layout, particularly if you've changed the margins in Google Docs.
4. Share the file only once you're happy with how the box sits on the page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a border in Google Docs?

Select a paragraph, open Format, choose Paragraph styles, then Borders and shading, pick a position, width, dash style and colour, and select Apply.

Is there a page border option in Google Docs?

Google's help doesn't describe a one-click page border. Use a paragraph border, a one-cell table or a drawing to get the same effect.

How do I remove a border in Google Docs?

Select the paragraph, open Borders and shading again and choose Reset, then Apply. For a table, select the cells and change the border colour or width in the toolbar.

Can I put a border around a table cell?

Yes. Select the cells and use the toolbar for border colour, border width and border dash. Google also lists background colour there.

Can I add a border on the Docs mobile app?

I couldn't find a Borders and shading option in Google's mobile help, so set the border on a computer and edit on your phone afterwards.