How to Set Word Margins and Create or Use Templates

To set 1-inch margins in Word, go to the Layout tab, select Margins, and choose Normal. Normal sets the top, bottom, left and right margins to 1 inch each. If Normal shows different numbers, select Custom Margins and type 1 in all four boxes.

A margin is the blank space between the edge of the page and your text. Microsoft says in its Change margins guide that every Word page starts with a one-inch margin, so you only need these steps when a document or template has been changed. Many schools and workplaces ask for 1-inch margins, but check the exact requirement you were given before you submit anything.

What You Need First

• Versions covered: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019 and Word 2016 on Windows, Word for Mac, and Word for the web. These are the versions Microsoft lists on its current margin help pages.
• Older versions: in Word 2010 and Word 2013 the same Margins button is generally found on a tab named Page Layout instead of Layout. Microsoft no longer documents those versions, so treat that as a guide and look for the Margins button.
• An editable document: if the file opened in a read-only or protected view, turn on editing first, or the Margins button may be unavailable.
• Know your units: if your copy of Word measures in centimeters, 1 inch appears as 2.54 cm. That is the same size.

How to Set 1-Inch Margins With the Normal Preset

This is the shortest route, and it works on Windows and Mac. Changing margins moves your text, so page breaks, tables and pictures can shift. Glance through a long document afterward. If the change pushes a blank page onto the end, see how to delete an empty page in Word.

1. Open your document in Word.
2. Select the Layout tab at the top of the window. A row of page tools appears, including Margins, Orientation and Size.
3. Select Margins at the left end of that tab. A menu of ready-made margin sets opens.
4. Choose Normal. Under the name you should see Top, Bottom, Left and Right each listed as 1 inch.

The menu closes and the text reflows to fit the new margins. If the numbers under Normal are not 1 inch, or Normal is not in the list, use the Custom Margins steps in the next section.

How to Type 1-Inch Margins Yourself

Use this method when you want to see and control the exact numbers. The steps come from the Microsoft article Create custom margins.

Word for Windows

1. Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins. Custom Margins is at the bottom of the menu, and it opens the Page Setup window.
2. On the Margins tab, type 1 in the Top, Bottom, Left and Right boxes.
3. Leave Gutter at 0 unless the pages will be bound. A gutter is extra space added to a margin so a binding does not cover the text.
4. Set Apply to to Whole document. Microsoft explains that this box decides whether the change affects the whole document or only the selected sections.
5. Check the Preview picture, then select OK.

Word for Mac

1. Go to the Layout tab, and then select Margins.
2. Select Custom Margins.
3. Enter 1 for the top, bottom, left and right margins.
4. Select OK.

Word for the web

1. If the document opened for reading only, select Edit Document > Edit in Word for the web.
2. Go to Page Layout > Margins. Microsoft uses the name Page Layout for this tab in the web version; if yours says Layout, use that.
3. Select Custom Margins.
4. Set Top, Bottom, Left and Right to 1, and select OK.

Word for the web can only change the top, bottom, left and right margins. Microsoft notes in Set gutter margins that the web version keeps a gutter that was set in the desktop app but cannot change it.

Make 1-Inch Margins the Default for New Documents

Before you start: this changes the Normal template, which is the file Word uses to build every new blank document. It affects future documents, not ones you have already saved. Only do it if you want every new document to start this way.

1. In Word for Windows, go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.
2. Set all four margins to 1.
3. Select Set As Default at the bottom of the Page Setup window.
4. Word should ask you to confirm the change. Select Yes to accept it.

Microsoft describes this button in Page margin basics: it makes the current settings the standard for new documents based on the Normal template. On a Mac, the steps Microsoft gives are to open the Format menu, select Document, select the Margins tab, make your changes, and then select Default. Those steps are in Change the default settings for new documents.

The same idea works for other defaults. See how to set a default font in Word if you also need a required typeface.

How to Check Your Margins and Undo the Change

• Read the numbers: open Layout > Margins > Custom Margins again. All four boxes should show 1 inch (or 2.54 cm). Select Cancel to close without changing anything.
• Look at the ruler: go to View and select Ruler. Microsoft covers this in Show the ruler. On Windows the vertical ruler only appears in Print Layout view and has its own setting under File > Options > Advanced > Display.
• Preview before printing: go to File > Print and look at the preview. Microsoft recommends previewing pages because layout settings can change how many lines fit on a page.
• Undo: press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on a Mac right after the change, or open the Margins menu again and pick the earlier setting.

Use Narrow Margins by Default in Word 2013

In Word 2013, open a blank document and choose Page Layout > Margins > Narrow. Open the small Page Setup dialog launcher in that ribbon group, inspect the actual top, bottom, left and right measurements and select Set As Default. Confirm Yes for documents based on the Normal template only if you intend that future default. These are the exact historical controls in our original Word 2013 tutorial; the template-based default behavior is explained above. Open another new blank document and check its margin values and layout. Existing documents and other templates are separate. To reverse the default, select the previous margin values in Page Setup and use Set As Default again. For a one-document change, use the margin preset without changing the template default.

Set Custom Default Margins in Word 2010

To use margins other than one inch for new blank documents in Word 2010, open a blank document and choose Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins. Enter your desired Top, Bottom, Left and Right measurements; check their units and the preview. Select Set As Default at the bottom of Page Setup, then confirm Yes when Word asks to change the default settings based on the Normal template. Open a new blank document and revisit Custom Margins to check the values. Current desktop Word calls the ribbon tab Layout. Microsoft explains template-based defaults: this changes future documents based on that template, not every existing document or a document using another template. To restore one-inch defaults, repeat the procedure with one inch in all four fields.

Change Word Measurement Units: Inches or Centimeters

To show measurements in either inches or centimeters in Word for Windows, open File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Display, and choose Inches or Centimeters from Show measurements in units of. Select OK, then reopen Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and check the displayed unit. In Word 2010, the same Options route applies, but the ribbon tab is Page Layout. Microsoft’s measurement-unit instructions also give the Mac route: Word > Preferences > General > Show measurements in units of. Changing this application preference changes how Word displays measurements, including the ruler; it does not resize the physical margins. One inch is 2.54 centimeters. Choose the previous unit again to undo the display change, or use Custom Margins to change the actual page margins. The unit preference is not a control on the Paper tab of Page Setup.

Troubleshooting 1-Inch Margins in Word

Word shows centimeters instead of inches

You can type 2.54 cm, or switch Word to inches. On Windows, go to File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Display, set Show measurements in units of to Inches, and select OK. On a Mac, go to Word > Preferences, select General under Authoring and Proofing Tools, and choose the unit there. Microsoft notes in Change units used for margin measurement that this also changes the ruler and other measurements.

Only some pages changed

The document probably has more than one section. A section is a part of a document that can have its own page settings, separated by a section break. Microsoft says a new margin setting is applied only to the current section when a document has several. Open Custom Margins and set Apply to to Whole document. If one part needs different settings on purpose, such as a sideways page, see how to make only one page landscape in Word.

One side still looks wider than 1 inch

Check the Gutter box in Custom Margins. A gutter adds space on top of the margin, so a 1-inch left margin with a 0.5-inch gutter leaves 1.5 inches of blank space. Also look at Multiple pages. If it is set to Mirror margins, the side boxes are renamed for facing pages, the way a book is laid out. Choose Normal there for an ordinary document. Paragraph indents and page borders are separate settings and are not fixed by changing margins; our guide to page borders in Word covers the border distance.

The Margins button is missing or gray

Make sure you are on the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions and Word for the web) and that the document can be edited. In Word for the web, switch to editing with Edit Document first. If the window is narrow, the button may shrink to a small icon, so widen the window.

New documents still open with other margins

Repeat the Set As Default steps, and remember that only documents based on the Normal template pick up the change. A document made from a different template keeps the margins saved in that template.

Create and Save a Blank Word Document

In desktop Word, choose File > New > Blank document and type your content. Select the intended text and use Home > Font or the Paragraph controls for its appearance; use the margin instructions above for page spacing. Choose File > Save As (or Save a copy when that is the offered command), choose a folder and filename, select Word Document (.docx) and save. Use Ctrl + S on Windows or Command + S on Mac for later saves. Reopen the actual file to confirm its name, location and contents. AutoRecover is not a substitute for saving, and AutoSave depends on the file’s location and settings, so do not assume every new local document is saved automatically. A template is an alternative starting layout, as explained below.

Start a Book Project With a Word Template

In desktop Word for Windows, choose File > New, search for booklet, select a suitable result and choose Create. Microsoft’s booklet-template instructions also list Word 2019. On a Mac, use File > New from Template and Search All Templates. Results can change; do not assume a particular novel, cookbook or textbook design is always included.

Replace the template’s placeholder title and text, then check headings, paper size, margins, tables and pictures before writing a long project. Save the new document under your own name using Save a copy or Save As, as offered by your Word version. Reopen the saved copy and confirm your changes. A template starts a new document; it does not automatically reformat a book you already wrote or guarantee a publisher’s layout requirements.

For a folded booklet without a template, Microsoft documents Layout > Margins > Custom Margins > Multiple pages > Book fold. Word changes the orientation to Landscape. Reserve binding space with Gutter, choose the paper size on the Paper tab and review the layout before selecting OK. This is folded-booklet printing, not a universal format for a full-size bound book.

Check File > Print and your printer’s double-sided instructions. Folded booklets need the correct page order and short-edge flipping; a four-page test can catch reversed pages before a full print run. Existing text, tables and images can move after layout changes. Work on a copy, use Undo immediately for an unwanted change and retain the original. Change this document’s margins without using Set As Default unless you also intend to change future template-based documents.

Create a Greeting Card in Word

In desktop Word for Windows, including the Word 2019 layout from our original guide, choose File > New, search the online templates for card or greeting card, select an available design and choose Create. Results vary, so inspect its paper size, orientation and fold layout instead of assuming every design is suitable. You can instead choose Blank document, then use Layout > Size and Orientation for the intended paper and the margin controls above. Type your message, select text to set its font and alignment, and use Insert > Pictures to add a photo. Replace all template placeholders and check the front, inside and back positions for a folded design.

Save the editable card with File > Save As, a new name and Word Document (.docx). Reopen it, then inspect File > Print for clipping, scaling and the correct pages. Print a plain-paper test and fold it before using cardstock; check the printer’s supported paper and two-sided settings. For a digital copy, use our Word PDF export instructions and inspect the exported file. Word’s ordinary Save As dialog does not universally offer a greeting-card image export; use the linked guide’s separate page-to-JPEG procedure when you need a picture.

Create an Award Certificate in Word

In desktop Word for Windows, including Word 2016, choose File > New, search for certificate, select a suitable available template and choose Create. Replace the sample recipient, award or course name, issuer and date. For your own layout, start with Blank document, choose the intended paper size and orientation under Layout, then type and format those details. Use Insert > Pictures for an appropriate logo; resize it without covering the text. If you need a printed signing space, use Insert > Shapes > Line and draw a line in the intended place. A decorative line or signature picture is separate from a verified digital signature.

Save an editable .docx under a new filename, reopen it and check every name and date. Inspect File > Print to confirm that the whole certificate fits the chosen paper, and make a test print. Export a separate PDF with our complete Word PDF procedure when you need a fixed-layout copy. Open the PDF to check fonts, borders and logo placement before sharing or sending it to a printer. A reusable template can save setup for the next recipient; use the .dotx workflow below rather than overwriting the completed recipient’s certificate.

Create Your Own Reusable Word Template

In desktop Word for Windows, start with a blank document or a copy of an existing layout. Set its margins, styles, header, footer and reusable text. Replace private or one-time information with appropriate placeholders, then choose File > Save As > This PC. Give it a clear name and select Word Template (*.dotx) in Save as type. Word normally selects the Custom Office Templates folder under Documents. Choose Save. Microsoft’s template instructions cover this route.

To use it, choose File > New > Personal (called Custom in some versions) and select your template. Fill in the new document and save it as its own .docx file. Reopen it to check the layout and values. Creating a new document from the template should leave the reusable .dotx file available for the next job; repeatedly editing that template itself is a different operation.

To revise the template, use File > Open > This PC, browse to Custom Office Templates, open the .dotx file and save your changes. Test a new document afterward. This is separate from changing the Normal template defaults described above.

Save and Use a Template in Word 2010

In Word 2010, prepare the reusable layout in a copy of your document, replace private or one-time text with placeholders, then choose File > Save As. Enter a name, select Word Template (*.dotx) in Save as type, check the folder and choose Save. To start a document from it, use File > New > My Templates when it is stored in Word’s templates location, select the template and confirm the new-document choice. If it is stored elsewhere, locate the saved template to create a document from it. Save the resulting work as its own .docx and confirm the original .dotx remains reusable. These are the historical controls from our original Word 2010 tutorial. They differ from the current Personal/Custom gallery above and do not require changing Normal template defaults.

Show Page Margins With the Word Rulers

In desktop Word for Windows, choose View > Print Layout, then check Ruler on View. If the vertical ruler is absent, open File > Options > Advanced, find Display, check Show vertical ruler in Print Layout view and choose OK. Microsoft’s ruler instructions cover that setting and the separate Mac preferences. Check the rulers against the page: shaded outer areas indicate the margins. Paragraph-indent markers and tab stops are separate controls; dragging one can change paragraph formatting instead of the page margin. For exact measurements, use Layout > Margins > Custom Margins as described above. If top or bottom page whitespace is hidden, use File > Options > Display > Show white space between pages in Print Layout view, documented in Word’s display options. These view settings do not themselves resize the margins.

Show Text Boundaries in Desktop Word

In Word for Windows, including Word 2013, open File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Show document content, select Show text boundaries and choose OK. Inspect the document in Print Layout. A Microsoft-hosted support answer describes the thin gray boundaries around paragraphs; do not expect this to draw a single continuous frame around the entire page in every version. These are display guides rather than printable borders, and they do not change the margin values. Clear the same checkbox and choose OK to hide them. For numeric margins, use Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and inspect the intended section; for shaded margin areas, use the complete ruler procedure above. Word for the web does not expose this desktop File > Options route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the default margins in Word already 1 inch?

Yes. Microsoft says each Word page automatically has a one-inch margin. If yours are different, the document or the template behind it was changed, so choose Normal on the Margins menu or type the values in Custom Margins.

What is 1 inch in centimeters?

One inch is 2.54 centimeters, 25.4 millimeters or 72 points. Word accepts any of the units Microsoft lists for margins: inches, centimeters, millimeters, points and picas.

Can I set 1-inch margins for just one page?

Margins belong to a section, not a single page. To give one page different margins, that page has to be in its own section, with a section break before and after it. Then click in that page and use Custom Margins with Apply to left on the current section. The same Page Setup dialog is also where you center text vertically in Word.

Can I drag the ruler to set the margins?

The ruler is useful for seeing where the margins are, but dragging by eye is not exact. When a requirement says exactly 1 inch, type the number in Custom Margins so there is no doubt.

Does this work in the Word app on a phone or tablet?

The current Microsoft custom margin instructions cover Windows, macOS and the web only. The mobile apps generally have a Layout tab with a Margins option as well, but the labels can differ, so confirm the result on a computer if the document has strict formatting rules.

Will changing the margins change my page count?

It can. Wider margins leave less room for text on each page, so a document may run longer, and narrower margins do the opposite. Check page breaks and page numbers after the change.

Next Step

With the margins set, confirm the paper size matches too, since a 1-inch margin looks different on Letter and A4 paper. See how to change the paper size in Word Online, or browse our Word page and layout guides for more formatting help.

Choose Custom Page Margins in Word

For measurements other than one inch in Word 2019 or current desktop Word, open Layout > Margins and select a suitable preset, or choose Custom Margins. Enter your desired Top, Bottom, Left and Right values in the displayed units. Review the preview and Apply to choice, then select OK. Older Word 2010 and 2013 layouts call the tab Page Layout. Microsoft’s margin instructions cover preset and custom choices.

Check the affected pages and print preview because changed margins can move text, tables and page breaks. Use Whole document when that is your intention and the dialog offers it; a document with multiple sections can otherwise apply the change only to the current section. Press Undo immediately to reverse an unwanted result. Set As Default changes future documents based on the template, so it is unnecessary when you only want to change this document.