How to Indent in Google Docs (Hanging and First-Line)

To make a hanging indent in Google Docs, select the paragraphs, click Format › Align & indent › Indentation options, set Special indent to Hanging, enter a size such as 0.5 inches, and click Apply. The first line stays at the left margin and every line after it moves in. For a first-line indent, choose First line in the same box instead.

This guide covers Google Docs in a web browser on a computer. Google documents the Format › Align & indent menu in Change how paragraphs & fonts look and the indent shortcuts in its Google Docs keyboard shortcuts list. Below you will find the menu method, the ruler method, whole-document indents, and fixes for the most common problems.

What hanging and first-line indents are

• Hanging indent: the first line starts at the margin, and the second and later lines are indented. APA, MLA, and Chicago reference lists use it so each entry stands out. For numbered notes at the bottom of a page, see how to add footnotes in Google Docs. To build the reference list itself, see how to cite sources with the Google Docs research tools.
• First-line indent: only the first line of each paragraph moves in. It is common in essays, reports, and books.
• Left indent: the whole paragraph moves in, such as a block quote.

How to make a hanging indent in Google Docs

1. Select the paragraphs you want to change. For a reference list, press Enter once at the end of each entry so each one is its own paragraph.
2. Click Format in the menu bar.
3. Point to Align & indent, then click Indentation options.
4. Open the Special indent menu and choose Hanging.
5. Type the indent size. Citation styles usually call for 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
6. Click Apply.

Result: each selected paragraph starts at the left margin and its wrapped lines are indented. New paragraphs you type right after keep the same format.

How to make a first-line indent

1. Select the paragraphs, or press Ctrl+A (⌘+A on a Mac) to select the whole document.
2. Click Format › Align & indent › Indentation options.
3. Under Special indent, choose First line and enter a size, such as 0.5 inches.
4. Click Apply.

Result: the first line of every selected paragraph moves in, so you no longer need to press Tab at the start of each one.

Use the ruler instead

The ruler is quicker when you want to see the change as you drag. If you don’t see it, click View › Show ruler.

• The small rectangle on the left of the ruler sets the first-line indent.
• The triangle below it sets the left indent for the whole paragraph.
• For a hanging indent, drag the triangle to the right (for example, to 0.5″), then drag the rectangle back to the left margin.

Result: the paragraph shows the indent as soon as you let go. Hover over a marker first to see its label so you grab the right one.

Indent a whole paragraph or document

To move entire paragraphs in or out, use the Increase indent and Decrease indent buttons in the toolbar. Google lists the shortcuts as Ctrl+] and Ctrl+[ on Windows and ChromeOS, and ⌘+] and ⌘+[ on a Mac. For exact measurements, open Indentation options and set the Left and Right values instead.

Troubleshooting

• Only one line changed: lines you broke with Enter are separate paragraphs. Remove the extra line breaks so each citation is one paragraph, then apply the indent again.
• No Special indent option: make sure you are in Google Docs, not Sheets or Slides, and on the computer version. Library guides note that the mobile apps don’t offer this box; as a workaround there, select every line except the first and tap Increase indent.
• The indent looks too big or small: open Indentation options again and check the units and value.
• Spaces or tabs at the start of lines: delete them first. They stack on top of the indent and make lines uneven.

Frequently asked questions

What size should a hanging indent be?

APA, MLA, and Chicago all use 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) for reference lists. Check your instructor’s or publisher’s guide if you aren’t sure.

How do I remove an indent?

Select the paragraphs, open Format › Align & indent › Indentation options, set Special indent to None, and set Left to 0. Or press Ctrl+[ until the text is back at the margin.

Indents set with Indentation options or the ruler are paragraph formatting, so they normally carry over to a .docx download. Indents made with spaces or tabs often shift.

Related: How to Add, Change, or Remove a Header in Google Docs, How to Insert a Page Break in Google Docs, and How to Insert a Horizontal Line in Google Docs.