How to Add a Line in Google Docs: Divider, Signature, Vertical

There are a few different things people mean by adding a line in Google Docs. Some want a divider under a heading. Some want a line to sign on. Some want a vertical rule between two blocks. I'll go through each, using only the methods Google's help pages document.

One honest note first. I couldn't find an official help page for a one-click horizontal line command, so I won't send you down a menu path I can't back up. The three routes below are all in Google's own help.

Which Google Docs line do you need?

Line you want	Best route
A divider under a heading or between sections	Paragraph border (bottom)
A neat line to write or sign on	Paragraph border or table cell border
A vertical line or a line at an angle	Drawing
A line that fits an exact block of text	Table cell border

A divider line using a paragraph border

This is the tidiest option for most documents because the line travels with the text. Google's formatting help describes it:

1. Click in the paragraph that should sit above the line. An empty paragraph works well if you only want the line itself.
2. Open the Format menu and choose Paragraph styles, then Borders and shading.
3. Under Position, choose the bottom of the paragraph.
4. Set the border width and the dash style: dashed, dotted or solid.
5. Pick a border colour and select Apply.

That gives you a line that runs the full width of the text area. Because it's a border rather than a drawn object, it adjusts when you change margins or add text above it.

A signature or fill-in line in Google Docs

For a line someone can write on, use the same bottom border on an empty paragraph, or on a short paragraph of text such as a name label. If you need two or three lines side by side, a table is better. Insert a table, then use the toolbar to give the cells you want a bottom border and take the others away by setting their border width to nothing.

Google's table help lists border colour, border width and border dash in the toolbar once you've selected cells, and it also lets you merge cells, which is useful for making one long line under a label.

Drawing a line, arrow or vertical rule

When the line needs to be vertical, diagonal or an arrow, use a drawing. On a computer, click Insert, then Drawing, then New. In the drawing window, find Select line and pick the type you want. Google lists Line, Elbow Connector, Curved Connector and Arrow, plus Curve, Polyline and Scribble.

1. Choose the line type.
2. Click to start, then drag across the canvas.
3. Use the buttons above the canvas to change line colour, thickness or style.
4. Close the drawing window to place it in your document.

Drawn lines sit as objects in the document, so they can drift if you edit the text around them. I keep them for diagrams, not for dividers.

Stopping an unwanted Google Docs line from appearing

Sometimes a line shows up that you never asked for, and it's usually a paragraph border carried over from pasted text. To remove it:

1. Click in the paragraph above where the line appears.
2. Open Format, then Paragraph styles, then Borders and shading.
3. Select Reset, then Apply. Google says Reset removes paragraph borders and colour.
4. If a table border is the culprit, select the cells and set the border width to the thinnest option or change the colour to white.

If a stray line pushes content onto a blank page, my guide to deleting a page in Google Docs covers the usual culprits.

Where a line in Google Docs earns its place

• Between sections of a proposal so clients can scan it quickly.
• Under the title block of a report.
• Above the total on a quote or order form.
• As a signature line at the end of a letter or agreement.
• Beside a pull quote to draw the eye.

The quote case is worth pausing on. If you're working from a template, how to fill in a Google Docs template correctly shows where a line separates the items from the total.

A light touch matters on CVs too. Lines that look lovely on screen can confuse software that reads your document, so check my thoughts on modern resume design that doesn't distract before you add them.

Adding a line on a phone or tablet

Google's mobile help doesn't document a divider line command that I could find, so I won't promise one. The sensible plan is to set up the line in a browser on a computer, then continue on your phone. The border or drawing stays in the file.

A quick fix list for a Google Docs line that looks wrong

• Line too short: use a paragraph border for full width, or stretch the drawing.
• Line too thin: raise the border width in the Borders and shading dialog.
• Line in the wrong place: check which paragraph carries the border.
• Line moves when you type: switch from a drawing to a paragraph border.
• Line shows on screen but not in the print preview: check the colour is dark enough.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a line in Google Docs?

Click in a paragraph, open Format, choose Paragraph styles, then Borders and shading, set the position to bottom, choose a width and colour, and select Apply. For vertical or angled lines, use Insert, Drawing, New.

How do I add a vertical line in Google Docs?

Use a drawing: Insert, Drawing, New, then Select line and drag a line on the canvas. A left or right paragraph border also works for a line beside text.

How do I make a line to sign on?

Use a bottom paragraph border on a short or empty paragraph, or a table cell with only a bottom border.

Why did a line appear that I didn't add?

It's usually a paragraph border from pasted text. Open Borders and shading on that paragraph and choose Reset.

Can I draw a line in the Docs app?

I couldn't confirm that in Google's mobile help. Set the line up on a computer and keep editing on your phone.