Line spacing in Word controls the space between lines of text, and paragraph spacing controls the gaps before and after paragraphs. When those settings are wrong, a document looks cramped or full of blank space. You can fix a few paragraphs, the whole file, or every new document from Word's built-in spacing controls.
Change line spacing for selected text
Select the paragraph or paragraphs you want to change. Press Ctrl+A on Windows, or Command+A on Mac, if you want the same spacing across the entire document. Go to Home.
Select Line and Paragraph Spacing. Choose a preset such as 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, or 2.0. Use 1.0 for single spacing, 1.5 for roomier drafts, or 2.0 for double-spaced work.
Pick the right spacing control
Line and Paragraph Spacing changes the space between lines inside the selected paragraph. Use it when the text itself looks too tight or too spread out.
Before and After spacing changes the space around paragraphs. Use those controls when there is a large blank gap between paragraphs even though the line spacing looks normal.
For exact control, open Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options. The Paragraph dialog lets you adjust line spacing and paragraph spacing in one place.
Fix extra gaps between paragraphs
This fixes paragraph gaps that stay too large after normal line spacing is already selected. Select the paragraph with the unwanted gap. Select several paragraphs if the gap appears in more than one place.
Open Layout. Under Spacing, adjust the Before box. Adjust the After box.
Type a number directly when you want a specific spacing value. Press Enter to apply the value.
Apply spacing to the whole document
Click anywhere in the document. Go to Design. Select Paragraph Spacing.
Choose the spacing preset you want for the document. Select No Paragraph Space when you want a single-spaced document without extra paragraph gaps. To switch back later, return to Design > Paragraph Spacing.
Choose the option under Style Set, such as Default or the current style-set name. This is the fastest route when the whole file needs one consistent spacing setup.
Fine tune exact spacing options
For more control, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options. In the Paragraph dialog, the Line spacing menu includes Single, 1.5 lines, Double, At least, Exactly, and Multiple.
Single, 1.5 lines, and Double are the simple choices. At least, Exactly, and Multiple use the At box for a specific value.
You can also open the same dialog from Home > Paragraph > Dialog Box Launcher. After changing the spacing, select OK.
Set default line spacing for new documents
Open Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options. Under Spacing, choose the Line spacing setting you want. Adjust Before if you want new documents to use different spacing before paragraphs.
Adjust After if you want new documents to use different spacing after paragraphs. Select Set as Default. Choose All documents based on the Normal template.
Select OK. Use desktop Word for defaults because Word for the web changes the current document only and new web documents return to 1.15.
Use keyboard shortcuts for common spacing
Use these when you only need single, 1.5-line, double, or quick keyboard access to the spacing menu.
- 1.Select the paragraph or paragraphs you want to change.
- 2.On Windows, press Ctrl+1 for single spacing, Ctrl+2 for double spacing, or Ctrl+5 for 1.5-line spacing.
- 3.On Mac, press Command+1, Command+2, or Command+5 for those same spacing choices.
- 4.In Word for Windows, press Alt+H, then K to open Line and Paragraph Spacing, use the arrow keys to pick a spacing size, and press Enter.
- 5.To adjust paragraph spacing with the keyboard in Word for Windows, press Alt+P, S, B for spacing before or Alt+P, S, A for spacing after, then type a value or use the arrow keys and press Enter.
Change spacing in Word for the web and mobile apps
Use these controls when you are editing in a browser, on an iPhone or iPad, or on an Android phone or tablet. They change the current document, not the default for future Word files.
In Word for the web, open the Viewing dropdown next to Share. Select Editing. Select the paragraphs you want to change, or press Ctrl+A.
Go to Home > Line Spacing. Choose the number of line spaces you want. For more control, select Line Spacing Options and change the settings under Spacing in the Paragraph dialog.
On iPad, select the text. Tap Home. Tap the Line Spacing icon. Choose a value from 1.0 to 3.0.
On iPhone, tap the Edit icon. Open the Home menu. Choose Line Spacing. Pick a value from 1.0 to 3.0.
On an Android tablet, select the text. Tap Home. Tap the Paragraph icon. Use the Line Spacing menu.
On an Android phone, tap the Edit icon. Tap Paragraph Formatting under Home. Choose a value from 1.0 to 3.0. On Android, use Add Space Before Paragraph, Add Space After Paragraph, Remove Space Before Paragraph, or Remove Space After Paragraph for paragraph gaps.
Use Immersive Reader for reading space only
Immersive Reader changes how the document looks while you read it, without changing the saved paragraph formatting. Use it when you want more comfortable spacing on screen but do not want to edit the layout.
In Word for Windows, go to View > Immersive Reader, then turn on Text Spacing. On Mac, go to View > Learning Tools, then select Text Spacing.
In Word for the web, go to View > Immersive reader, then use Text options. On iPad, open View > Immersive Reader.
If the saved document spacing still does not change, edit the style itself from the Home tab: in the Styles gallery, right-click the style, select Modify, choose the single, 1.5x, or double spacing button, and select OK.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to double-space in Word?
Select the paragraphs, then press Ctrl+2 on Windows or Command+2 on Mac.
Why does Word still show big gaps after I choose single spacing?
Those gaps are paragraph spacing, not line spacing. Use Layout > Spacing and reduce the Before or After value, or choose Design > Paragraph Spacing > No Paragraph Space for the whole document.
Can Word for the web change the default line spacing?
No. Word for the web changes spacing in the current document, but new documents return to 1.15 line spacing.
Can Copilot, Dictate, or a Microsoft account setting change saved line spacing?
Word has no Copilot, Dictate, or personal Microsoft account setting that changes saved line spacing on its own. Windows Voice Access is the exception worth knowing: it drives the controls you already have, so you can say "Click Line and Paragraph Spacing" to open the menu or "Press Control 2" to double-space, and the result is saved with the document. Otherwise, use Word's desktop, web, or mobile spacing controls.
Do Word mobile apps let me change paragraph spacing too?
Android Word apps include add and remove options for space before or after paragraphs. On iPad and iPhone, Microsoft lists line spacing controls only, with no separate Before or After paragraph-spacing controls.