How to Add a Page Border in Word and Fix Missing Borders

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A Word page border draws a line or decorative pattern around the page edge. It is different from paragraph and table borders, and its scope depends on section breaks and the Apply to setting.

Does this affect you?

Use this for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, and Word 2019 on Windows or Mac when making a certificate, flyer, cover page, or document that needs a visible page outline.

Add a border to every page

This applies one border across the document.

  1. Open the Design tab, or Page Layout in some older versions.
  2. Click Page Borders.
  3. On the Page Border tab, choose Box, Shadow, 3-D, or Custom.
  4. Pick the line style, color, and width, or choose a decorative Art border.
  5. Set Apply to as Whole document.
  6. Click OK.

If printing cuts off the border, the border may be too close to the physical paper edge for your printer margins.

Add a border to just one page

Use section breaks so the border does not affect the rest of the file.

  1. Click at the end of the page that should have the border.
  2. Open Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks.
  3. Click on the page that needs the border.
  4. Open Design > Page Borders.
  5. Choose the border style.
  6. Set Apply to to This section or This section – First page only.
  7. Click OK.

More control

Fix borders missing on some pages

Missing borders usually come from section breaks. Put the cursor in each affected section, open Page Borders, and check the Apply to setting. Repeat as needed for sections that need the same border.

Adjust border distance

In Borders and Shading, click Options. Set Measure from to Text or Edge of page, then adjust top, bottom, left, and right distance values.

Remove the border

Open Design > Page Borders, choose None, confirm Apply to matches the document or section you want cleared, and click OK.

Plain borders print cleaner

Built-in Art borders are repeating clip-art images and may print poorly on some home printers. A simple line style often looks sharper.

Sources

  • Microsoft Support – Add a border to a page (2025)
  • Microsoft Support – Insert a section break (2025)
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