Margins control the blank space around the page. Word gives you presets like Normal and Narrow, and it also lets you type exact measurements when a school, publisher, resume template, or workplace style guide requires them.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, and Word 2019 on Windows or Mac when you need 1-inch margins, smaller margins, wider margins, or different margins in one part of a document.
Change margins for the whole document
This is the normal method for most files.
- Open the Layout tab. In older versions, it may be called Page Layout.
- Click Margins.
- Choose Normal, Narrow, Moderate, Wide, or another preset.
- For exact values, click Custom Margins.
- Enter Top, Bottom, Left, and Right measurements.
- Check the preview and click OK.
If only part of the document changes, the file probably has section breaks. Margins can be different in each section.
Set different margins for one section
Use section breaks to contain the change.
- Click at the start of the text or page that needs different margins.
- Open Layout > Breaks.
- Choose Next Page or Continuous under Section Breaks.
- Click inside the new section.
- Open Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.
- Set the measurements.
- Set Apply to to This section.
- Click OK.
More control
Add gutter space for binding
For booklets, reports, or anything bound at the edge, open Custom Margins and add a Gutter value. Use Left for single-sided binding or Mirror margins for double-sided printing.
Switch inches and centimeters
Open File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Display, and change Show measurements in units of. On Mac, measurement units follow Word or system settings depending on version.
Make margins the default
Open Custom Margins, enter the measurements, click Set As Default, and choose the Normal template option if every new blank document should use them.
Respect printer limits
Some printers cannot print close to the paper edge. If Word warns that margins are outside the printable area, increase the margin slightly or check the printer properties.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Change or set page margins in Word (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Insert a section break (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Insert, delete, or change a section break (2024)