To outline text in PowerPoint, select the text, click the Shape Format tab, and open the Text Outline menu in the WordArt Styles group. Pick a color, then use Text Outline > Weight to set the thickness. For hollow, outline-only letters, add the outline first and then set Text Fill to No Fill.
These steps are for PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016 on Windows, and they follow Microsoft’s guide to adding a fill, outline, or effect to text or WordArt. PowerPoint for Mac has the same Text Outline menu on its Shape Format tab. Older versions such as PowerPoint 2010 and 2013 put it under Drawing Tools > Format.
Text Outline draws a line around each letter. Shape Outline, which sits right next to it on the ribbon, draws a border around the whole text box. If you got a rectangle instead of outlined letters, you used Shape Outline.
Add an Outline to Text in PowerPoint
- Open the presentation and go to the slide with the text you want to outline.
- Select the text. Drag across the words, or click the edge of the text box to select all of the text in it.
- Click the Shape Format tab at the top of the window. It only appears when a text box, shape, or WordArt is selected.
- In the WordArt Styles group, click the arrow next to Text Outline.
- Choose a color from Theme Colors or Standard Colors. Click More Outline Colors for a specific shade.
- Open Text Outline again, point to Weight, and pick a thickness such as 1 pt or 1½ pt.
- Click an empty part of the slide to see the finished text.
The outline only applies to the characters you selected, so select the whole phrase if you want every word to match.
Change the Outline Thickness or Style
The Text Outline menu has three settings that control how the outline looks:
- Weight sets the line thickness. Thin lines (¾ to 1½ pt) suit most titles. Heavy lines can fill in small gaps in letters like “e” and “a.”
- Dashes turns the outline into a dotted or dashed line.
- More Lines opens the Format Shape pane on the Text Options tab, where you can type an exact width, set transparency, or use a gradient line.
You can also right-click the text and choose Format Text Effects to open that same pane. Make sure Text Options is selected at the top of the pane. Shape Options changes the box, not the letters.
A good starting point for a title is a bold sans-serif font at 40 points or larger with a 1 to 1½ pt outline in a color that contrasts with the fill. Thin fonts and small sizes lose their shape once an outline is added.
If outlined titles wrap onto a second line, you can also change the line spacing for every slide from the slide master.
Make Hollow (Outline-Only) Text
Hollow text shows only the outline, with a transparent inside.
- Select the text.
- Add an outline with Shape Format > Text Outline, and set a Weight of at least 1 pt so it stays visible.
- Click the arrow next to Text Fill in the same WordArt Styles group.
- Choose No Fill.
The letters now show the slide background through them. Add the outline before you remove the fill. Microsoft notes that text with no fill and no outline becomes invisible, which looks as if the words were deleted. If that happens, press Ctrl+Z or set a Text Fill color again.
Hollow text works best on large headings over a plain background. Over a busy photo, the thin outline can get lost.
Outline Text in PowerPoint for Mac
- Select the text on the slide.
- Click the Shape Format tab.
- Click the arrow next to Text Outline (the “A” with a pencil line under it).
- Pick a color, then use Weight or Dashes in the same menu.
For hollow text, use Text Fill > No Fill on the same tab after adding the outline.
Outline Text in PowerPoint for the Web
PowerPoint for the web has fewer WordArt controls than the desktop app, and the letter outline setting isn’t always on its ribbon. If you can’t find Text Outline on the Shape Format tab, click Editing in the upper-right corner, choose Open in Desktop App, and follow the Windows steps. Outlines you add in the desktop app still show up when the file is opened in a browser.
Remove a Text Outline
- Select the outlined text.
- Click Shape Format > Text Outline.
- Choose No Outline.
If the text was also set to No Fill, pick a Text Fill color first so the words stay visible. Removing the outline doesn’t touch shadows, glows, or other Text Effects. Remove those separately from the Text Effects menu.
Troubleshooting
The whole box got a border instead of the letters
You used Shape Outline. Select the box, choose Shape Outline > No Outline, then select the text and use Text Outline instead.
The Shape Format tab is missing
The tab only shows when a text box, shape, or WordArt object is selected. Click directly on the text. If the “text” is part of a picture, such as a screenshot or a logo image, it can’t be outlined because it isn’t editable text.
Only some letters are outlined
The outline applies only to the selected characters. Select the full phrase and apply the same color and weight again.
The outline looks blurry or doubled
Check for a shadow or glow under Text Effects. These are separate from the outline and can make the edge look fuzzy. Set them to No Shadow or No Glow to compare.
The outline looks different in the PDF
Export a test PDF and zoom in. Very thin outlines (¼ or ½ pt) can disappear when printed or projected. Use at least 1 pt for anything people will view from a distance. Our guide to saving a PowerPoint as a PDF covers the export.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Text Outline and Outline View?
Text Outline adds a visible line around letters. Outline View (View > Outline View) shows the text of all your slides as an editable list. It doesn’t change how the text looks.
Can I outline text in a WordArt object?
Yes. WordArt is regular editable text with styling applied, so the same Text Outline menu works on it. You can insert WordArt from Insert > WordArt and then change its outline.
Can I use a gradient outline on text?
Yes, in the desktop app. Choose Text Outline > More Lines, then select Gradient line in the Text Outline section of the Format Shape pane.
Will the outline change if I change the theme?
If you picked a color from Theme Colors, the outline updates to match the new theme. Colors from Standard Colors or More Outline Colors stay the same, so check them after you switch themes.
Why does my slide look gray after adding an outline?
The outline doesn’t change your color settings. If the whole slide looks gray, PowerPoint may be in grayscale view. See why a PowerPoint presentation is black and white.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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