The fastest way to add a line in Word

You can add a line in Word in three ways: draw one freehand, insert a shape line, or use the border feature on a paragraph. The method you choose depends on what you need the line for. If you want a decorative line between sections, a border works fastest. If you need a line you can move around freely, drawing or inserting a shape is better.

Most people reach for the border method first because it takes two clicks and stays in place automatically. The other methods give you more control over exactly where the line sits on the page.

Key Takeaways

  • A paragraph border creates a line above, below, or around text and is the quickest method for dividing sections of a document.
  • The drawing tool lets you sketch a freehand line anywhere on the page, and you can adjust its thickness and color after you draw it.
  • Inserting a shape line gives you a perfectly straight line that you can resize and reposition without affecting your text.
  • All three methods are found in the Home or Insert tabs, depending on which version of Word you use.

Adding a line using paragraph borders

A paragraph border is a line that sits above, below, or around a paragraph of text. This is the fastest method if you want to separate sections of your document. Click at the end of the paragraph where you want the line to appear, then go to the Home tab. Look for the Borders button — it looks like a small square with lines around it.

Click the small arrow next to the Borders button to open a menu. Select Borders and Shading at the bottom of that menu. A dialog box opens. Under Settings, choose which sides you want the line on: Box (all four sides), Top and Bottom, or just Bottom. Most people choose Bottom for a dividing line. Click OK and the line appears.

If you want to change the line's thickness or color, open the Borders and Shading dialog again and look for the Style and Color options before you click OK. You can also use the Width dropdown to make the line thicker or thinner.

Drawing a freehand line

If you want to draw a line anywhere on the page without it being attached to text, use Word's drawing tool. Go to the Insert tab and look for Shapes. Click the arrow next to Shapes to open the menu. At the top, you will see a Line option — click it.

Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag on the page to draw the line. Start where you want one end to be and drag to where you want the other end. The line appears as soon as you release the mouse. If the line is not straight, click it to select it, then drag one of the small squares at either end to adjust the angle.

Once the line is drawn, you can change its color and thickness. Right-click the line and select Format Shape. Under Line, you can pick a new color, adjust the width, and choose whether the line is solid or dashed. Click outside the line when you are done editing.

Inserting a straight shape line

A shape line is different from a freehand line because it is always perfectly straight and easier to resize. Go to Insert and click Shapes. In the menu that opens, look for the straight Line option in the top row. Click it, then click and drag on your page to create the line.

After you draw it, small circles appear at each end. Drag these circles to make the line longer, shorter, or to rotate it. You can also drag the line itself to move it to a different spot on the page. This method works well when you need a line that does not move around if you edit the text above or below it.

Changing line color and thickness

Whether you drew the line or inserted it as a shape, you can customize how it looks. Click the line to select it. On the Drawing Tools tab that appears, look for Shape Outline. Click the arrow next to it to choose a new color. You can also click Weight on the same tab to make the line thicker or thinner.

If you are working with a border line instead, click in the paragraph and go back to Home > Borders > Borders and Shading. Change the Color and Width settings, then click OK.

Removing a line you no longer need

To remove a line you drew or inserted as a shape, click it once to select it and press Delete. The line disappears immediately. If you want to undo this, press Ctrl+Z right away.

To remove a paragraph border, click in the paragraph, go to Home > Borders, and select No Border. The line disappears but the paragraph stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a line that spans the entire width of the page?

Yes. If you use a paragraph border, it automatically spans the full width. If you draw or insert a shape line, drag the end circles all the way to the left and right margins. You can also hold Shift while dragging to keep the line perfectly horizontal.

Why does my line move when I add or delete text above it?

If you drew the line as a shape, it may be anchored to a paragraph. Right-click the line, select Wrap Text, and choose In Front of Text. This keeps the line in a fixed position on the page regardless of text changes.

How do I make a dotted or dashed line instead of solid?

Click the line to select it, then go to Drawing Tools > Shape Outline > Dashes. Choose the dash pattern you want. For paragraph borders, open Borders and Shading, click the Style dropdown, and select a dashed or dotted pattern before clicking OK.

Can I add a line between columns of text?

Yes, but it works differently. Go to Layout > Columns, click More Columns, and check the box that says Line between. This adds a vertical line automatically between your columns.