How to Add a Border in Word (Whole Document or One Page)

A border is a small touch that makes a certificate, a menu, an event poster or a client welcome sheet look finished. Word can draw a simple line, a double frame or even a decorative art border round the page, and you don't need any design software to do it.

The confusing bit is that Microsoft applies page borders by section rather than by page. So if you only want a border on one page in the middle of a document, there's an extra step. I'll cover that, along with Mac, the web and how to take a border off again.

Adding a page border in Word for Windows

1. Open the Design tab.
2. Select Page Borders. The Borders and Shading box opens on the Page Border tab.
3. Choose a Setting for the frame, then pick a Style, Color and Width for the line.
4. If you want a decorative edge, open the Art list and choose one instead of a line style.
5. Check the Apply to box so the border lands on the pages you want.
6. Select OK.

Microsoft's help also points to the Options button in the same box. Use it to change the distance between the border and the edge of the page, which helps when your printer trims the outer edge.

Adding a page border in Word for Mac

The Mac route is the same menu with a slightly different layout. According to Microsoft:

1. Go to Design, then Page Borders.
2. In Borders and Shading, choose a Setting, then a Style for the line.
3. Open Color and Width to pick the colour and thickness.
4. Optionally, open Art and choose a clip-art border.
5. Open Apply to and pick the pages, for example This section - First page only for a cover.
6. Look at the Preview, select OK, and check the page.

Word page border settings explained

Setting	What it controls
Setting	The overall frame type, or None to remove a border
Style	The look of the line itself
Color	The colour of the line
Width	How thick the line is
Art	A decorative picture border in place of a line
Apply to	Which section or pages get the border
Options	The gap between the border and the page edge

Putting a border on just one page in Word

This is where most people get stuck. Microsoft says a page border is applied by section, not by individual page. That means:

• For the first page only, such as a cover, choose the first-page-only option in Apply to.
• For a page in the middle of a document, add section breaks before and after that page first, then apply the border to that section.
• For the whole document, choose the whole-document option in Apply to.

If you're not sure where your section breaks sit, select Show/Hide on the Home tab and they'll appear on screen.

Removing a border from one side of the page

Fancy a line just across the top and bottom? In the Borders and Shading box, look at the Preview diagram and select the edges you don't want. Microsoft says selecting a line in the preview removes that side. The preview updates straight away, so you can see the effect before you select OK.

Taking a page border off in Word

1. Go to Design, then Page Borders.
2. Set Apply to for the page or pages you want cleared.
3. Under Setting, choose None.
4. Select OK.

On older Windows versions, Microsoft says Page Borders lives on the Page Layout tab in the Page Background group instead of Design.

Borders in Word for the web

Microsoft is clear that Word for the web doesn't let you add, edit or delete borders on text. Any border created in the desktop app is kept when you open the file in the browser, but you can't change it there.

Microsoft's workaround for a boxed section of text is a table with just one cell. Insert a table with one row and one column, then type your text inside it. The table's outline acts as the border, which works nicely for a call-out or a notice.

If your Word page border won't print or appear

• The border shows on one page only. Check Apply to, as it may be set to the first page or a single section.
• The border appears on pages you didn't want. Your document may be one big section, so add section breaks.
• The outer edge gets cut off when printed. Use Options to move the border further in from the page edge.
• You can't find Page Borders. Look on the Design tab first, then Page Layout on older versions.

Using Word borders for small business printables

Borders work well on certificates for workshop attendees, gift vouchers, simple menus and thank-you cards in parcels. Keep them simple and use a colour from your branding rather than the brightest art option. If you build some printables in Canva instead, my guides to adding your own fonts to Canva and adding page numbers in Canva help keep them consistent with your Word documents.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the page border option in Word?

On the Design tab, select Page Borders. On older Windows versions, Microsoft says it's on the Page Layout tab in the Page Background group.

How do I add a border to only one page in Word?

Microsoft says borders are applied by section. For a cover, choose a first-page-only option in Apply to; for a middle page, add section breaks around it first.

Can I add a border in Word for the web?

No. Microsoft says Word for the web can't add, edit or delete borders on text. Its suggested workaround is a one-cell table with your text inside.

How do I remove a page border in Word?

Go to Design, Page Borders, set Apply to for the pages you want cleared, choose None under Setting and select OK.

Can a Word border go on only some sides of the page?

Yes. In the Preview diagram in Borders and Shading, select the sides you don't want and they'll be removed.