How to Double Space in Google Docs (2026)

Double spacing means a full blank line's worth of height between each line of text. Essays, manuscripts, drafts for an editor and some application forms ask for it, and it's handy whenever someone needs room to scribble notes on a printout. In Google Docs it's a two-click job once you know where the control hides.

I'll show you the toolbar route, the menu route, how to space an entire document in one go, and how to fix the odd gap that appears between paragraphs. Everything below follows Google's own help for Docs.

Double spacing selected text in Google Docs

Google's help says to go to the paragraph you want to change, or select several paragraphs, before you open the spacing menu. Then:

1. Click the paragraph, or drag to select the ones you want double spaced.
2. Find Line and paragraph spacing in the toolbar at the upper right of the document area. You can also open the Format menu and pick the same item.
3. Click Double.

The text spreads out straight away. Google lists four ready-made choices in this menu: Single, 1.15, 1.5 and Double. Single is tight, 1.15 is a gentle default, 1.5 gives breathing room, and Double is the one you want here.

Double spacing a whole Google Docs document at once

Select everything before you choose the spacing. On most computers the Select all shortcut does it, or you can drag from the top of the document to the bottom. Then follow the same Line and paragraph spacing route and click Double.

If only part of the document changes, you probably selected only part of it. Click at the very start of the text, scroll to the end, hold Shift and click again to take in every paragraph, including the last one.

Setting your own gap with custom spacing in Google Docs

Sometimes double is too much and 1.5 is too little. Google's menu includes Custom spacing for exactly this. Select your paragraphs, open Line and paragraph spacing, click Custom spacing, enter the size of the spacing you want before and after a paragraph and click Apply.

Be aware that this setting controls the space before and after each paragraph. It's a different dial from the line spacing option, which sets the height of each line inside the paragraph. Using both together is how you get a clean, readable layout.

Removing the extra gap between Google Docs paragraphs

Double spacing and paragraph spacing often get mixed up. If your lines are double spaced but there's still a big gap between paragraphs, that gap comes from the paragraph settings. Google's help says to click Remove space before paragraph or Add space after paragraph in the same menu to change it.

A tidy fix when a style guide asks for double-spaced lines with no extra gap: set Double for the lines, then remove the extra space before and after paragraphs using those two options.

Google Docs spacing options that keep text together

The same menu holds three options Google describes by name: Keep with next, Keep lines together and Prevent single lines. They stop awkward splits, such as a heading stranded at the bottom of a page or one lonely line at the top of the next. Google says these aren't available in pageless documents, so switch to pages format first.

Spacing choice	What it does
Single	Tight lines, the most text per page
1.15	A light increase in space between lines
1.5	Roomier lines for easier reading
Double	A full extra line of space, often asked for in essays and drafts
Custom spacing	Sets your own gap before and after paragraphs

Double spacing in Google Docs on your phone

The spacing controls exist in the Docs mobile app too, but menus vary between versions and between Android and iPhone. Tap the formatting icon while your text is selected and look for the paragraph or line spacing area. I couldn't confirm the exact labels from Google's help, so if you can't find them, open the file on a computer for this job.

Why double spacing in Google Docs matters for your reader

Wider spacing makes dense text easier to scan, mark up and edit. If you're sending a draft to a copy editor or colleague, it gives them space to comment. If you're writing a cover letter, how to write a cover letter that gets you shortlisted has advice on layout and length that applies whatever you choose for spacing.

For a CV, I'd go the other way: single or a touch more, so everything fits tidily. filling in a blank resume template, step by step shows the balance.

Fixing Google Docs double spacing that won't stick

1. Check you selected the text before choosing a spacing option.
2. Look for pasted text. It can bring its own formatting, so select it again and reapply Double.
3. Open the Line and paragraph spacing menu with your cursor in the odd paragraph, to see which option is ticked.
4. If one paragraph still looks different, clear its formatting and apply the spacing once more.
5. Switch on View, then Show non-printing characters, to spot stray line breaks that create gaps.

Frequently asked questions

How do I double space in Google Docs?

Select your text, open Line and paragraph spacing in the toolbar (or the Format menu) and click Double. Google's menu also offers Single, 1.15 and 1.5.

How do I double space the whole document in Google Docs?

Select all the text first, then open Line and paragraph spacing and click Double so every paragraph changes together.

Why is there still a gap between my paragraphs?

That gap comes from paragraph spacing, not line spacing. Use Remove space before paragraph or Add space after paragraph in the same menu to change it.

What is custom spacing in Google Docs?

It's an option in the Line and paragraph spacing menu where you enter the size of the space before and after a paragraph, then click Apply.

Can I double space on the Google Docs mobile app?

The app has spacing controls, but menus vary by version and I couldn't confirm the labels from Google's help. A computer is the reliable route.