How to Add a Page Border in Microsoft Word

Page borders can help visually define sections, highlight key content, or simply add decorative flair to your Word document. Whether applying borders to certain pages or the whole document, it’s a straightforward task in Word.

Below are step-by-step instructions to add and customize page borders to suit your needs,

Adding a Border to All Pages

To quickly add a border to every page

• Click the “Design” tab and go to the “Page Background” section.
• Click “Page Borders” to open the “Borders and Shading” dialog box.

In the dialog box:

• Select the border style, color, width and other options.
• Choose “Whole document” in the “Apply to” dropdown.
• Click OK.

A border will now appear around all pages

Adding a Border to Certain Pages

To apply a border to specific pages:

• Position the cursor where you want the new border.
• Go to Layout > Breaks > Section Breaks and insert a section break.
• Click the “Design” tab and select “Page Borders.”
• In the dialog box, design the border and choose “This section” in the “Apply to” dropdown.
• Click OK.

Repeat as needed to add different borders throughout the document.

Border Styles and Customization

Word offers many built-in border styles to choose from:

• Box – A plain rectangular border. Customize the thickness and color.

• Shadow – Adds a shadow effect along the border.

• 3-D – Simulates a 3D, raised edge.

• Graphic – Borders with images and textures.

• Custom – Mix and match border lines on each side.

To customize further, select “Options” in the dialog box. You can:

• Change the distance from text or page edges.
• Choose which sides to apply borders.
• Apply borders to linked text boxes.

Tips for Unique Borders

• Use contrasting colors between border and page background for clarity.

• Add header/footer styles that coordinate with page border styles.

• For a handwritten look, use a highlighter pen border with thick uneven width.

• Get creative with graphic borders – stars, rope, bitmap textures, and more.

• Use page color to make initial letter or text pop with a black border.

• Make a borderless “window” on pictures by adding white borders.

Troubleshooting Page Borders

Border not appearing correctly

• Check if odd/even page setting is preventing the border from showing.

• Examine sections breaks – the border may be applied incorrectly.

Can’t delete border

• Go to “Borders and Shading” and select “No Border” to remove.

Border margins are off

• Open the dialog box, select Options, and adjust margin settings.

Border overlaps text

• Increase internal margins in the “Options” section.

Border appears on wrong pages

• Adjust or add section breaks before/after the pages that need borders.

Creative Uses for Page Borders

Page borders have many versatile applications to enhance documents:

Highlight Key Pages

Use bold graphic borders or bright colors to frame important pages. This quickly draws the reader’s eye. For example, your title page, chapter opener, author bio page, or call to action page.

Separate Sections

Sections with different themes or topics can be visually separated by unique page borders. This provides clarity and organization.

Emphasize Blocks of Text

Add colored borders around sidebars, quotes, examples, or key paragraphs to make them stand out on the page.

Decorate Fliers and Newsletters

Fliers and newsletters can benefit from stylized page borders that reflect the theme. Try holiday themes, music notes, flowers, autumn leaves and more.

Frame Photographs

Printed documents with photos benefit from added borders, which frame and accentuate the images. Try black, white, or mirrored edges.

Enhance Creative Works

For artistic manuscripts, poetry, lyrics, or quotations, complement the creative vibe with page borders featuring glyphs, vines, scrollwork, ink blots, chalk, birch bark, papyrus, or other evocative graphics.

Add Whimsy to Printables

Kids’ activity sheets, coloring pages, bookmarks, and learning printables can be made more fun and playful with illustrated page borders.

Key Takeaways

Here are some key pointers on working with page borders in Word:

• Use page borders strategically to enhance specific pages and sections.

• Customize width, style, and color to create the desired look and emphasis.

• Adjust border margins as needed prevent overlap with text.

• For unique themes, explore the many graphic border options.

• Troubleshoot any issues with incorrect borders or overlap quickly.

• Get creative with page borders to highlight, frame, separate, and decorate your document!

With the formatting options available, you can add appealing page borders that truly complement the design and purpose of your document. Strategically implemented, borders provide visual interest and useful clarity for the reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you add borders only to certain pages in Word?

Yes, you can add borders to specific pages by inserting section breaks before and after the selected pages, then applying the border formatting only to that section.

How do you put different borders on different pages in Word?

Use section breaks to divide the document. Then open the “Borders and Shading” dialog box and apply different border styles to each section under the “Apply to” dropdown.

How do you remove borders from certain pages in Word?

If the border was applied to the whole document, insert section breaks around the pages needing border removal. Open “Borders and Shading”, choose “This Section”, and select “No Border” to remove for those pages only.

Can you add double borders in Word?

Yes, choose “Custom” in the “Setting” section, then select different border styles for each side. This allows you to essentially create double (or triple) borders by overlapping.

How do I add borders in Word on Mac?

The steps are the same. Go to the “Design” tab, select “Page Borders”, choose your options, and apply to all pages or a specific section. Mac offers fewer default graphic borders but otherwise functions the same.