How to Add a Page Border in Google Docs (3 Methods)

Updated 4 min read Video

Quick answer

Google Docs has no page border setting, so you draw one. Click Insert > Drawing > New, draw a rectangle with a transparent fill, click Save and close, set the drawing to Behind text and stretch it to the page edges. For a simple frame, use a 1 x 1 table instead.

Watch the video walkthrough

Google Docs still has no Page borders command, unlike Word. You can fake one convincingly, though. The right method depends on whether you need a decorative frame, a box around all your text, or a border around one block.

Methods in this guide:

Adding a page border with a drawing

Use this when you want a full-page frame in any colour, weight or dash style. This is the method the video shows.

  1. Click Insert > Drawing > New.
  2. Click Shape > Shapes and choose the rectangle. Drag to draw it across the canvas.
  3. With the rectangle selected, set Fill color to Transparent.
  4. Use Border color, Border weight and Border dash to style the line.
  5. Click Save and close.
  6. Click the drawing in your document and choose Behind text in the toolbar that appears below it.
  7. Drag the corner handles until the rectangle reaches the page margins on every side.

Result: A border frames the page and your text stays editable on top of it.

Tip: If the border jumps around while you type, click it and look for Fix position on page. Google’s help on positioning images lists Move with text and Fix position on page as position options.

Repeating the border on several pages

Use this when the whole document needs the same frame.

  • Copy and paste: click the border, press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on Mac), click on the next page and press Ctrl + V (Cmd + V). Repeat for each page.
  • Put it in the header: the video shows inserting the drawing while the cursor is in the header, then resizing it to cover the page. Anything in the header repeats on every page that uses it.

Headers can differ between sections and on the first page. Check each page after you add the border.

Adding a page border with a single-cell table

Use this when you want a simple box around everything you type, such as a certificate or cover page.

  1. Click Insert > Table and choose 1 x 1.
  2. Type or paste your content inside the cell.
  3. To style the border, select the cell and use Border color, Border width and Border dash in the toolbar.
  4. To make the box fill the page, right-click the table, choose Table options, and set a minimum Row height. You can also drag the bottom border down.

Result: A clean rectangle surrounds your content and grows as you type.

A single cell can split across pages, so the frame is open at the bottom and top where it breaks. Use one table per page if each page needs a closed box. Google’s guide to adding and editing tables covers the border and size options.

Adding a border with paragraph borders and shading

Use this when you only need a box around a heading, a note or a block of paragraphs, not the whole page.

  1. Select the paragraphs.
  2. Click Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading.
  3. Choose the Position buttons for the sides you want, then set Border width, Border dash and Border color.
  4. Optionally set a Background color and Paragraph padding.
  5. Click Apply.

Result: A border surrounds the selected paragraphs. To remove it, open the same dialog and click Reset.

This is a paragraph border, not a page border. It only covers the text you selected and stops where that text ends.

Comparing the methods

MethodBest forWorks on
Drawing behind textDecorative, full-page framesGoogle Docs on a computer, Pages format
1 x 1 tableSimple boxes around a page of contentGoogle Docs on a computer
Paragraph bordersBoxing a heading or a few paragraphsGoogle Docs on a computer

Platform differences

  • Pages versus pageless: Behind text, wrapping and position options aren’t available in pageless format. Click Format > Switch to Pages format first.
  • Mobile apps: create the border on a computer. The steps above use the desktop menus and the Drawing editor.
  • Margins: a drawing set to Behind text can extend past the margins. Tables and paragraph borders stay inside them, so change the page margins in Google Docs to make the frame bigger.
  • Word: Word has a real page border setting under Design > Page Borders, so a border made there doesn’t need any of these workarounds.

Troubleshooting page borders in Google Docs

  • The border hides my text: the drawing is set to In front of text. Click it and choose Behind text.
  • The border spills onto the next page: it is slightly taller than the space between the margins. Drag the bottom handle up a little.
  • The border is missing in the PDF: check that the document isn’t pageless, then export the Google Doc as a PDF again.
  • The table border breaks across pages: Google’s table guide describes a setting to prevent information from overflowing across pages. Or keep the content short enough to fit one page per table.

To style the text inside your border, see how to create a hanging indent in Google Docs or use subscript and superscript. More guides are in the Google Docs hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Docs have a page border option?

No. There is no page border setting in Google Docs. You can draw a rectangle, use a single-cell table, or add paragraph borders with Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading.

How do I add a border to every page in Google Docs?

The video's method is to put the drawn border in the header, so it repeats on each page. Otherwise, copy the drawing and paste it onto each page.

Why does my border move when I type?

The drawing is set to move with the text. Click it and choose Behind text, then fix its position on the page if that option is offered.

Can I add a page border in pageless format?

Not with a drawing. Image layout and position options such as Behind text aren't available in pageless documents, so switch with Format > Switch to Pages format first.

Share: