Change line spacing in three clicks

Line spacing is the blank space between lines of text in a document. In Microsoft Word, you can change it from the Home tab without touching any settings menus. Select the text you want to adjust (or press Ctrl+A to select all), then click the line spacing button in the ribbon — it looks like horizontal lines with arrows pointing up and down — and choose your spacing from the dropdown menu.

Word offers preset options: 1.0 (single spacing, the tightest), 1.15, 1.5, 2.0 (double spacing, the loosest), and a few others. You can also choose "Line Spacing Options" at the bottom of that same dropdown to set a custom measurement if none of the presets match what you need.

Key Takeaways

  • The line spacing button is on the Home tab in the ribbon, marked by horizontal lines with vertical arrows.
  • Select your text first — either specific paragraphs or the entire document with Ctrl+A — before changing spacing.
  • Word's preset options range from 1.0 (single) to 2.0 (double), and you can set custom spacing in the Line Spacing Options dialog.
  • Spacing changes apply only to selected text, so you can have different spacing in different parts of the same document.

Finding the line spacing button in the ribbon

The line spacing control lives on the Home tab, which is the first tab you see when you open Word. Look in the Paragraph section of the ribbon — this is the group of buttons in the middle-right area. The button you want shows four horizontal lines with a double-headed arrow next to them, pointing both up and down.

If you are using an older version of Word (2007 or 2010), the button may look slightly different, but it is still in the Paragraph section on the Home tab. Hover your mouse over buttons if you are unsure; Word will show you the name of each button after a moment.

Selecting text before you change spacing

Line spacing changes only affect text you have selected. If you want to change the spacing for your entire document, press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to select all text at once. The selected text will appear highlighted in blue.

If you want to change spacing for only part of your document — say, a single paragraph or a few lines — click at the start of that section and drag to the end, or click once and then Shift+click at the end. Once the text is highlighted, the spacing change will apply only to what you selected.

Using preset spacing options

Click the line spacing button and a dropdown menu appears with numbered options: 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0. The number represents how much space Word puts between lines relative to the height of the text itself. Single spacing (1.0) is the default and leaves the least room; double spacing (2.0) leaves twice as much room and is often required for academic papers.

Most documents use either 1.0 or 1.5 spacing for readability. Academic submissions often require 2.0. If you are unsure which to use, check any guidelines provided by your school or employer — they will specify the spacing they want.

Setting custom line spacing

If none of the preset options work for your needs, click the line spacing button and select "Line Spacing Options" at the very bottom of the dropdown menu. This opens the Paragraph dialog box. Under the Indents & Spacing tab, you will see a section labeled "Spacing" with a dropdown that currently shows your selected spacing.

Click that dropdown and choose "Exactly" or "At least" depending on whether you want a fixed measurement or a minimum. Then enter the measurement you want in the box next to it — you can use points (pt), inches (in), or centimeters (cm). For example, typing "0.3 in" sets spacing to exactly 0.3 inches between lines. Click OK when you are done.

Spacing between paragraphs versus spacing between lines

Word distinguishes between line spacing (space within a paragraph) and paragraph spacing (space between separate paragraphs). The line spacing button controls only the space between lines within a paragraph. If you want to add space between paragraphs instead, use the spacing controls also in the Paragraph section of the Home tab — look for buttons labeled "Increase Paragraph Spacing" and "Decrease Paragraph Spacing," or use the Paragraph dialog to set exact measurements.

Many documents benefit from adjusting both. For example, you might use 1.5 line spacing within paragraphs but add extra space between paragraphs to make sections easier to scan. You can set both in the same Paragraph dialog if you use the "Line Spacing Options" route.

Saving your spacing changes

Once you change line spacing, it stays changed in that document until you change it again. If you want the same spacing in all your future documents, you can save it as part of a template or modify the Normal style. To modify the Normal style, right-click on "Normal" in the Styles panel (on the Home tab) and choose "Modify," then set your preferred spacing in the Paragraph dialog and click "OK."

If you do not see the Styles panel, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S to open it. From then on, any new document based on the Normal template will use your chosen spacing by default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my spacing look different on screen than when I print?

Your printer may have different margins or font rendering than your screen. Check Print Preview (File > Print) to see how the document will actually look when printed. If spacing still looks wrong, the issue is usually font size or margins, not line spacing itself.

Can I change spacing for just one paragraph without affecting the rest?

Yes. Click anywhere in that paragraph (you do not have to select the whole thing) and then change the spacing. The change applies to the entire paragraph. If you want different spacing in different paragraphs, repeat this for each one.

What is the difference between 1.5 and 2.0 spacing?

1.5 spacing puts 50 percent more space between lines than single spacing. 2.0 (double spacing) puts twice as much space. Double spacing is looser and easier to read but uses more pages. Most professional documents use 1.0 or 1.5; double spacing is mainly for academic submissions.

Does changing line spacing affect my word count?

No. Line spacing changes only how the text looks on the page, not the actual text itself. Your word count stays the same no matter what spacing you choose.

How do I undo a spacing change?

Press Ctrl+Z immediately after making the change, or go to File > Info and click "Undo" in the Recent Documents section. If you have already saved the document, you can also select the text and click the line spacing button again to choose a different option.