All new Google Docs come with a default set of margins. However, you may find that you have to change those margins to avoid formatting errors. You might overlook the issues while you’re writing, but once you hit print, you could be in for a surprise. Here’s how to change margins in Google Docs to clean up your documents.
Read more: How to add borders in Google Docs
QUICK ANSWER
To change margins in Google Docs, click File → Page setup. Enter your desired margin values in the Margins (inches) field for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right.
How to change margins in Google Docs
This is a pretty easy process, but you currently cannot change your margins on the Google Docs mobile app for Android. On your desktop, there are a couple of ways to get the job done: one that gives you control of all four margins and another that’s just for the left and right.
Changing the left and right margins
You can usually get away with changing just two margins. Otherwise, you might cut into the header and footer instead. There is a ruler that sits below the toolbar in Google Docs. Notice the blue arrows on either side of your document and a blue rectangle above the arrow on the left. These are what control the margins. Here’s what each one does:
- Blue rectangle: This is the first line indent. It only adjusts the first line of text, similar to a tab key.
- Blue arrows: These are the left and right indents. These adjust the left and right margins.
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Select the paragraph you wish to indent, then click and drag the blue rectangle. The first line will shift to the left or right with the placement of the blue rectangle. Use the ruler at the top of the page to track the indent measurement.
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Now, click and drag the blue triangles on both the left and right sides. Drag them towards one another, but keep in mind that even margins look cleaner. If you have content already written on the page, you must highlight the text you want to indent.
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Read more: How to add a header or footer to your Google Doc
Changing all four margins
If you don’t have a header or footer on your document, it might just be easier to change your margins from the Google Doc settings. It takes a little longer, but you also have more direct control over all four margins.
Click File from the top toolbar, then Page setup.
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Within the popup menu, you’ll see options to adjust the page orientation, size, and color. We’re more interested in the fields on the right side — the boxes labeled Margins (inches). Adjust the values within the fields marked Top, Bottom, Left, and Right as you see fit.
When finished, click the blue OK button to apply the new margins to your Google Doc.
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The new margins will apply to your entire document. That means the first page, or the one you were on, as well as all of the other pages in your Google Doc.
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The default margin size for all four sides is one inch.
