How to Change Margins in Google Docs

For those that like to live on the edge

If you’reusing Google Docsto type up a letter or an article, you’ll start with a representation of a blank piece of paper on your screen. The size of the virtual paper matches the usual page layout and size you’d see if you printed your document on a typical piece of document paper using A4 (or 210mm by 297mm) sizing.

If you plan to print on different paper, or if you’rechanging page orientation, you may need to alter the page margins. You can also change margins in Google Docs to move your text closer or further away from the edge of the page. If you want to know how to change margins in Google Docs, here’s what you’ll need to do.

How to Change Google Docs Margins Manually

By default, Google Docs defaults to a typical A4 document page layout. This means that the virtual page you’ll see is 210mm by 297mm in size, with margins set to be 25.4mm away from each edge (top, bottom, left, and right).

What this means is that, when you start typing into a Google Docs document with this standard layout, the text cursor is positioned at least 25.4mm (or 2.54cm) away from the top and left edges of the page. If you want to change the margins quickly, you can do so by moving the margins using thedocument ruler.

How to Change Google Docs Margins Using Page Setup

Another way you can change margins in a Google Docs document is to use thepage setupmenu. This gives you a quick overview of the page margin sizes, allowing you to choose between standard page sizes and standards (such as A4), as well as allowing you to customize your page with custom layouts and margins.

Customizing the Print Margins in Google Docs

If you change your margins in Google Docs, your text and images will move closer or further away from the edges of the page. If you decide toprint your document, a custom margin could have an impact on how your document appears on physical paper. Not all printers will allow you to print close to the page edge, for example.

If you want to change this before you print, you can customize the margin size before you print in thePrintmenu.

How to Change Margins for a Single Page in Google Docs

The methods above will change the page margins for a whole document. If you want to change the page margins for a single page (or for several pages, but not the whole document), you’ll need to select your pages first. You can then change the margins for the selected area using thepage setupmenu.

Once saved, your new margins will appear on the page with the content you’ve selected. If you need to revert the changes, select theUndobutton, or repeat the steps above to restore the page margins to their previous values.

Creating Documents in Google Docs

By changing the margins in Google Docs, you can create custom documents to fit all types of purposes, from small flyers and business cards to large canvas print-outs. Google Docs is a powerful tool, allowing you to insert signatures into important letters or usespecialist templates to create a new resume.

You can alsouse Google Docs’ chat featureto work collaboratively with friends or colleagues on important documents, oruse commentsto identify areas for improvement. If you’re familiar withMicrosoft Word, you shouldn’t find it too difficult to switch to Google Docs—you can evenuse Google Docs on mobile devices, too.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio

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How to Change Margins in Google Docs#

How to Change Google Docs Margins Manually#

How to Change Google Docs Margins Using Page Setup#

Customizing the Print Margins in Google Docs#

How to Change Margins for a Single Page in Google Docs#

Creating Documents in Google Docs#