To rotate text in Word, put it in a text box first (Insert, Text Box), then drag the circular rotation handle at the top of the box, or use Shape Format, Rotate. Hold Shift while dragging to rotate in 15-degree steps. For sideways text, change the box's Text direction instead.
A vertical label down the side of a flyer, a tilted Sold out stamp on a product sheet, column headings that run sideways to save space: rotated text is a small design trick that makes a document look considered. The thing Microsoft is clear about, and that confuses most people, is that Word won't rotate ordinary text on the page. You rotate a box that holds the text.
Rotating text with a text box
- Go to Insert and select Text Box, then choose a style.
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Select the box. A circular arrow, the rotation handle, appears at the top.
- Drag the handle round to the angle you want. Hold Shift to keep to 15-degree steps.
- Click elsewhere on the page to see the result.
Microsoft points out that a rotated text box appears straight again while you're editing it, which makes typing easier. It snaps back to the angle as soon as you click away, so don't worry when it looks unrotated mid-edit.
Choosing an exact angle
Dragging is fine for a playful tilt. For an exact angle, select the box, go to Shape Format, Arrange, Rotate, and choose:
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Rotate Right 90 | Turns the box a quarter turn clockwise |
| Rotate Left 90 | Turns the box a quarter turn anticlockwise |
| More Rotation Options | Type any angle in the Rotation box |
Sideways text without rotating the box
If you want text to read top to bottom inside a tall box, such as a label down the edge of a page, change the text direction rather than the box. Microsoft says you can pivot text 90 or 270 degrees so it appears sideways:
- Right-click the edge of the text box and choose Format Shape.
- Select Size/Layout & Properties.
- Under Text Box, choose an option in the Text direction list.
The box stays put and the text turns inside it, which is often easier to size and position than a rotated box.
Hiding the box so only the text shows
A text box comes with a border by default, which rarely looks right on a rotated label. Microsoft's fix: select the box, go to Shape Format, Shape Outline, and choose No Outline. If the box has a fill colour, remove that too in Format Shape under Fill, so only your rotated words remain.
Mirrored text
For a reversed, mirror-image effect, such as text that reads correctly through a shop window, Microsoft says to select the box, go to Shape Format, Text Effects, 3D Rotation, 3D Rotation Options, and set X Rotation to 180. It's a niche trick, but it's the right way to do it.
The catch: rotating several boxes
If you select several text boxes and rotate them, Microsoft says each one turns around its own centre rather than as a group, so a set of labels can end up scattered. Group them first: hold Shift, select each box, then go to Shape Format, Arrange, Group, Group. Then they move and rotate together.
It's also worth knowing that Word for the web can display rotated text boxes made in the desktop app, but rotating them is a desktop job, so do this part in the installed version of Word.
Ideas for using rotated text
- A sideways section label down the edge of a product sheet or menu.
- A tilted New or Limited stamp on a flyer.
- Narrow column headings in a planning document.
- A spine label for a binder or booklet cover.
For more control over how the box sits on the page and how text flows round it, my guide to adding a text box in Word covers the wrapping and position settings. And if you're tempted to use sideways headings on a CV, my guide to formatting a resume in Word explains why I'd keep those simple.
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Getting the size right after rotating
A rotated box keeps its original width and height, so a long, thin box turned on its side becomes a tall, narrow one. If your words wrap onto several short lines after rotating, that's why. Drag the box's handles to resize it, and remember you're now dragging along the rotated edges, which takes a moment to get used to. I find it easier to set the box to roughly the right size before rotating, then fine-tune afterwards. It's also worth zooming in a little while you do it, because the handles on a small box are fiddly to grab.
If your design needs the same rotated label on several pages, don't rebuild it each time. Copy the finished box and paste it onto the next page; it keeps its angle, outline and size, so every label matches.
My take
Insert a text box, drag the rotation handle with Shift held down, and remove the outline. Use Text direction when you want words running down a page, and group boxes before rotating several. Once you know Word rotates boxes, not text, it all falls into place.
Frequently asked questions
Can you rotate text in Word without a text box?
No. Microsoft says you need to put the text in a text box first, then rotate the box.
How do I rotate text 90 degrees in Word?
Select the text box and go to Shape Format, Arrange, Rotate, then Rotate Right 90 or Rotate Left 90.
How do I make text vertical in Word?
Right-click the text box, choose Format Shape and change the Text direction under Text Box.
Why does my rotated text look straight when I click it?
Word shows the box horizontally while you edit it. It returns to its angle when you click away.
How do I remove the box around rotated text?
Select the box and choose Shape Format, Shape Outline, No Outline.
