Word: Page Layout
Word Page Layout

Word offers a variety of page layout and formatting options that affect how content appears on the page. You can customize the page orientation, paper size, and page margins depending on how you want your document to appear.

Optional: Download our practice document.

Watch the video below to learn more about page layout in Word.

Page orientation

Word offers two page orientation options: landscape and portrait. Compare our example below to see how orientation can affect the appearance and spacing of text and images.

  • Landscape means the page is oriented horizontally.
    • Landscape orientation
  • Portrait means the page is oriented vertically.
    • Portrait orientation

To change page orientation:

  1. Select the Layout tab.
  2. Click the Orientation command in the Page Setup group.
    3. Clicking the Orientation command
  3. A drop-down menu will appear. Click either Portrait or Landscape to change the page orientation.
    4. Changing the page orientation
  4. The page orientation of the document will be changed.

Page size

By default, the page size of a new document is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Depending on your project, you may need to adjust your document's page size. It's important to note that before modifying the default page size, you should check to see which page sizes your printer can accommodate.

To change the page size:

Word has a variety of predefined page sizes to choose from.

  1. Select the Layout tab, then click the Size command.
    2. Clicking the Size command
  2. A drop-down menu will appear. The current page size is highlighted. Click the desired predefined page size.
    3. Changing the page size
  3. The page size of the document will be changed.

To use a custom page size:

Word also allows you to customize the page size in the Page Setup dialog box.

  1. From the Layout tab, click Size. Select More Paper Sizes from the drop-down menu.
    2. Selecting More Paper Sizes
  2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
  3. Adjust the values for Width and Height, then click OK.
    4. Adjusting page size
  4. The page size of the document will be changed.

Page margins

A margin is the space between the text and the edge of your document. By default, a new document's margins are set to Normal, which means it has a one-inch space between the text and each edge. Depending on your needs, Word allows you to change your document's margin size.

To format page margins:

Word has a variety of predefined margin sizes to choose from.

  1. Select the Layout tab, then click the Margins command.
    2. Clicking the Margins command
  2. A drop-down menu will appear. Click the predefined margin size you want.
    3. Changing the page margins
  3. The margins of the document will be changed.

To use custom margins:

Word also allows you to customize the size of your margins in the Page Setup dialog box.

  1. From the Layout tab, click Margins. Select Custom Margins from the drop-down menu.
    2. Selecting Custom Margins
  2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
  3. Adjust the values for each margin, then click OK.
    4. The Page Setup dialog box
  4. The margins of the document will be changed.

You can also open the Page Setup dialog box by navigating to the Layout tab and clicking the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.

Opening the Page Setup dialog box
You can use Word's convenient Set as Default feature to save all of the formatting changes you've made and automatically apply them to new documents. To learn how to do this, read our lesson on Changing Your Default Settings in Word.

Challenge!

  • Open our practice document.
  • Change the page orientation to Portrait.
  • Change the page size to Legal. If Legal size is not available, you can choose another size such as A5.
  • Change the margins to the Narrow setting.
  • When you're finished, your document should be one page if using Legal size. It should look something like this:
Page Layout Challenge Result

FAQs

What is the default page size in Word?

The default page size in Microsoft Word is typically Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) for the US/Canada, or A4 (210 x 297 mm) for most other countries, depending on your region settings.

How do I change the page orientation for just one page?

Select the text you want on the new page. Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins. Choose the orientation, then in the "Apply to" box, select Selected text. This creates section breaks automatically.

Can I set specific measurements for margins?

Yes. Click Margins > Custom Margins. In the dialog box, you can type exact measurements (e.g., 0.75") for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins.

What happens if I change the page size after writing?

Changing the page size (e.g., from Letter to A4) will cause your text to reflow. This might change where pages break, so you should review your document layout after resizing.

How do I make my margin settings permanent for all new documents?

In the Page Setup dialog box (Custom Margins), define your settings and then click the Set as Default button at the bottom left. Choose "All documents based on the Normal template" to apply to future files.

Continue to Next Lesson: Printing Documents →

You May Also Like

Loading...