How to Change Margins on Google Docs

Margins dictate how close the words on your document get to the edge. It basically sets a gap between the edge of the document and the text/image. By default, Google Docs has this margin set up to be one inch on each side. But, you can manually change it to your liking.

Each document has its own unique theme and context. As a result, it is important to have a proper margin set for better readability.

How to Change Margins on Google Docs?

Changing the default size of margins is fairly simple. You can do it in one of two ways: using the ruler or through the page setup menu. 

Note: All of the following methods are accessible only through PC.  

Use the Ruler

Generally, the ruler is right under the toolbar when you open a document on Google Docs. You will see a blue arrow showing where the margin starts on the document. If you cannot see the ruler, you need to activate it by going to View > Show Ruler.  

Now, follow these steps to change the margins.

1. Open your document on Google Docs.
2. Click on the grey line on the ruler at the top. Select the line on the left for the left margin and on the right for the right margin. Please note that moving the blue arrow on the top ruler only changes the margin of the line you’ve selected. 
   
3. Drag it to where you want the margin to be and release. 
   
4. Click on the gray line on the ruler on the left side of the screen. Use the grey line on top to adjust the top margin and the line on the bottom to adjust the bottom margin.
   
5. Drag it to where you want the margin to be and release.

Through Page Setup

The Page Setup option on Google Docs allows you to change the paper size, orientation, and layout of your document. It also allows you to type in the size of your margins in inches. This method is more precise than changing the margin using the ruler. 

You can follow these steps to do so.

On PC

1. Open a document on Google Docs.
2. Click on File at the top left of the screen.
   
3. Scroll down the drop-down menu and go to Page Setup.
   
4. Now enter the margin sizes in centimeters in the available margin text boxes.
5. Click the OK button to apply changes.
   

On iPhone

1. Open a document in Google Docs.
2. Click on the three dots at the top right corner.
3. Click on Page Setup.
   
4. Go to Margins.
   
5. You can choose the custom option to enter your desired width.
   

How to Reset My Margins Back to the Default Size?

After you change the margins on your document to a different size, you still have the option to go back to Google Docs’ default settings. Note that when you make this switch, it will also revert any other changes you have made. 

To reset the margins on your Google Docs, follow these steps.

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on File at the top left corner.
   
3. Go to Page Setup. 
   
4. Enter 2.54 in all text boxes since this is the default width.
   
5. Press the OK button.

How to Adjust the Margins for the Header and Footer on Google Docs?

The header and footer are separate from the rest of the document in Google Docs. You can apply different formatting within these sections. This includes the size of the margins in them. This margin can be different from the rest of the document and will only apply to the header and footer. 

You can follow these steps to adjust the margins for the header and footer.

1. Double-click on the header.
2. Click on Options in the right corner.
   
3. Go to Header format.
   
4. Enter the width of the margin for Header and Footer.
   
5. Click the Apply button to save changes.

You can also change the page setup to landscape mode. This changes the orientation of the page and can make your document look different.