You want a border in Google Docs, but the right tool depends on what you're framing. Use a one-cell table for a box you can type into, paragraph borders for existing text, or an image watermark for a frame that repeats on every page. Start with the simple table below, or jump to the option that fits your document.
Add a simple border with a one-cell table
On a computer, a single table cell gives your text a customizable border.
- 1.Click where you want the bordered content, then choose Insert > Table and select one cell, a 1 × 1 table.
- 2.Type or paste your content inside the cell.
- 3.Select the cell and use Border color, Border width, and Border dash in the toolbar to style its outline.
- 4.Drag the table edges to resize the bordered area.
- 5.For precise dimensions and padding, open Format > Table > Table options and adjust the Column, Row, and Cell settings.
Frame existing paragraphs
Place your cursor in the paragraph you want to frame, or select multiple paragraphs. Then open Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading. Under Position, choose the lines you want: top, bottom, left, and right for a box, or just a bottom or left-side line for a simpler accent.
Customize the outline with Border width, Border dash, and Border color. Adjust Paragraph padding to give the text some breathing room inside its border. For shading inside the border, choose a Background color. Click Apply.
Tip: The border applies to whole paragraphs, even when you select only a few characters.
Repeat a border on every page with a watermark
For a decorative frame on every page, use a border image as a watermark. Watermarks sit behind your text and repeat throughout the document; a table only surrounds the content inside it.
Prepare an image of your desired border with an empty center for the document text. In the desktop editor, open Insert > Page elements > Watermark > Image > Select image. Choose or upload your frame image. Then adjust the image formatting in the watermark panel to fit your document.
Click Done. For further adjustments, right-click the watermark. Choose Select watermark > Image options.
Reveal a hidden watermark border
Pageless format hides watermarks, so your frame disappears when the document uses that format. Open File > Page setup in the desktop editor. Select Pages.
Click OK. Pages format supports watermarks and headers; switching formats does not add a border by itself.
Build a custom bordered text panel
Use a drawing for an outlined shape or a custom frame with text inside it. Choose Insert > Drawing > New in the desktop editor. Use Shape to draw an enclosing shape, or Select line to build a custom frame.
Double-click an enclosed shape to enter text, or add a Text Box. Use the drawing toolbar to adjust the fill, border color, thickness, and line style. Click Save and close to insert the drawing.
Insert a text border on your phone or tablet
A one-cell table gives you a bordered text area in the Google Docs mobile app. Tap where you want the table. Open Add > Table.
Set the number of rows to one. Set the number of columns to one. Tap Insert table. Enter your content inside the cell.
On iPhone or iPad, select the cell to style its border. Open Format > Table. Customize the outline using Border color, Border width or Border weight, and Border dash.
For an Android document, open it in the desktop editor to customize the table border. Select the cell. Adjust Border color, Border width, and Border dash in the toolbar.
To resize a cell in either mobile app, select it. Open Format > Table. Adjust Minimum row height. Adjust Column width.
Outline a picture
Use an image border when the picture itself needs an outline. This frames the selected image, leaving the surrounding text and page outside the border.
On a computer, select the image in your document. Click Border color in the toolbar. Choose a color.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, select the image in the Google Docs app. Tap Format. Adjust the image's line color, weight, and dash to create the outline you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit text inside a drawing like ordinary document text?
Text inside a drawing is edited separately from ordinary document text. The drawing is a separate graphic and does not automatically frame every page.
How do I remove a paragraph border?
Place your cursor in the affected paragraph. Open Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading. Choose Reset, then click Apply.
How do I remove a watermark border?
In the desktop editor, open Insert > Page elements > Watermark. Select Remove watermark.
Can I reuse a border in another document?
Yes. Open the document containing the border and choose File > Make a copy. Enter a name and destination, then click Ok. The source document must permit copying.