Word inserts pictures In Line with Text by default, which treats the image like a large character on its own line. To place text beside it, either change the wrap setting or give the image and text separate containers.
Every method starts the same way: go to Insert > Pictures and choose the image from your computer (Picture from File on Mac).
Placing an image beside text with Wrap Text
Use this when you want a quick floating layout and the text around it won’t change much.
Click the picture to select it.
Click the Layout Options icon at its top-right corner.
Under With Text Wrapping, choose Square. Use Tight for irregular shapes or Through for PNGs with transparent areas.
Resize with a corner handle so the image keeps its proportions.
Drag the picture to the left or right of the paragraph.
Result: The text flows beside the image instead of above and below it.
Using Position presets instead of dragging
Select the picture and go to Picture Format > Position.
Choose a preset such as Top Left with Square Text Wrapping.
To change the gap, open Layout Options > See more (More Layout Options) and set Distance from text on the Text Wrapping tab.
Tip: If the picture jumps to another page when you edit, select it and choose Wrap Text > Fix Position on Page. In More Layout Options > Position, you can also select Lock anchor and clear Move object with text.
Microsoft’s wrap text around a picture guide covers every wrap style.
Placing an image and text side by side with a table
Use this when the layout must stay fixed while you edit the rest of the document. It’s the most reliable method.
Click where the layout should go.
Go to Insert > Table and select a 1 x 2 grid (1 row, 2 columns).
Click the left cell and insert the picture. Resize it with a corner handle.
Click the right cell and type or paste the text.
Drag the border between the cells to adjust the widths.
To align the text vertically, right-click a cell, choose Table Properties, open the Cell tab and pick Top, Center or Bottom.
Select the table, go to Table Design > Borders and choose No Border.
Result: The image and text sit side by side and don’t move when other text changes.
Placing an image and text in two columns
Use this for newsletter-style pages where text flows from one column into the next.
Click where the two-column area should start and go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page (or Continuous to stay on the same page).
In the new section, go to Layout > Columns > Two.
Insert the picture. It appears in the left column.
Go to Layout > Breaks > Column to move the cursor to the right column.
Type the text in the right column.
After the text, insert another section break so the rest of the document returns to one column.
Result: The image is in the left column and the text in the right. For column widths, spacing and dividing lines, see how to make two columns in Word.
Columns rely on section breaks. If one leaves an empty page, see how to remove the blank page a section break creates. The Google Docs equivalent is two columns in Google Docs.
Placing an image beside a text box or shape
Use this for callouts or designed layouts where the text needs its own styled container.
Set the picture’s wrap to Square or In Front of Text so it can float.
Go to Insert > Text Box > Draw Text Box, or Insert > Shapes and pick a rectangle.
Drag to draw the box beside the image. For a shape, right-click it and choose Add Text.
Type or paste the text.
On Shape Format, use Shape Outline > No Outline to hide the border, or Shape Fill to add a background.
To keep them together, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac), click both objects, then right-click and choose Group > Group.
Result: A floating text container sits beside the image. For a rounded headshot next to a bio, first crop the picture into a circle.
The same floating approach works for a floating signature image. Microsoft’s text box guide covers formatting options.
Note: Find and Replace and the Navigation Pane may not pick up text inside text boxes. Use a table if the text must be searchable.
Comparing the methods
| Method | Best for | Stays put when text is edited | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrap Text / Position | Quick one-off layouts | ❌ No, unless position is fixed | Windows, Mac, web (fewer options) |
| Table | Reports and documentation | ✅ Yes | Windows, Mac, web |
| Columns | Newsletter pages | ⚠️ Text reflows between columns | Windows, Mac |
| Text box / shape | Callouts and designed layouts | ❌ No | Windows, Mac |
Platform differences
- Mac: the same tools are on the Picture Format tab (Wrap Text, Position). Use Cmd instead of Ctrl for multi-select.
- Word for the web: go to the Picture tab > Wrap Text for a limited set of layouts. Tables work, but section breaks can’t be added, so set up columns in the desktop app.
Troubleshooting
- The image won’t move: it’s still In Line with Text. Change it to Square.
- The image jumps to another page: it is anchored to a paragraph that moved. Use Fix Position on Page or Lock anchor, or switch to a table.
- Table borders still show: select the whole table first, then reapply No Border. Gridlines that don’t print can be hidden with Layout > View Gridlines.
- The rest of the document turned into two columns: the closing section break is missing.
- You want the picture faded behind the text, not beside it: use Behind Text, or add a picture watermark in Word so it repeats on every page.
- You want a phone-scannable code beside the text: insert a QR code in Word, then place it with any method above.
- The picture is too wide for the page: make that page landscape.
- You want a tick box next to the picture instead of a symbol: insert a clickable checkbox in the table cell.
Assembling a report from several layouts? You can merge Word documents into one afterwards. More tips are in the Microsoft Word guides.