How to Add Page Borders in Microsoft Word (2026)

How to Add Page Borders in Microsoft Word (2026)

Page borders frame your content and add visual polish. Unlike paragraph borders which frame individual paragraphs, page borders surround entire pages. They’re useful for formal documents, certificates, and publications.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open Page Borders Dialog

Click Design > Page Borders (or Page Layout depending on Word version).

Step 2: Choose Border Style

In the dialog, select ‘Box’ for a traditional border. Choose the style (solid, dashed, decorative, etc.).

Step 3: Select Line Weight

Set the thickness of the border line. Thicker lines are more prominent; thinner lines are subtle.

Step 4: Choose Color

Select a color for the border. Colors should complement your document design.

Step 5: Set Margins

Adjust how far from the page edge the border appears. Default margins work for most documents.

Step 6: Apply to Pages

Choose whether the border applies to ‘This section’ or the ‘Whole document’.

Step 7: Preview and Confirm

The preview shows how your page border will appear. Click OK to apply.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using borders that are too decorative or thick—they can overwhelm the content
• Applying borders to only one section when you meant the whole document, or vice versa
• Choosing colors that don’t contrast well with text, making reading difficult

Tips and Tricks

• Use simple, professional borders for business documents. Save decorative borders for creative projects.
• Thin black or dark gray borders are universally professional
• Remember that borders affect margins—adjust margins if the border seems too close to text

Further Reading

• Microsoft Support — Word — Official Microsoft resource providing detailed instructions and troubleshooting for Word features including page borders.
• Microsoft Office Help — Comprehensive help site for all Office applications with guides on formatting and design elements like page borders.
• Microsoft Learn — Office — Authoritative tutorials and documentation on Microsoft Office tools, useful for understanding advanced Word formatting options.