To change margins in Google Docs on a computer, open File > Page setup, select Pages, enter your measurements under Margins, and click OK. Use this dialog for exact measurements rather than dragging a marker by eye.
The short version
- Use Page setup for exact page margins.
- Select Pages if margin settings are missing.
- Use section breaks when only part of the document needs different margins.
- Header and footer margins have separate controls.
- Choose Set as default to reuse your settings in new documents.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page setup | Sets exact page margins | Under a minute | You have required measurements |
| Pages and print layout | Restores page outlines | Under a minute | Page space looks missing |
| Pageless text width | Changes the reading width | Under a minute | You want a wider reading area |
| Section margins | Changes selected sections | A few minutes | One part needs its own layout |
| Ruler triangle | Moves selected content | Under a minute | You want a visual adjustment |
| Header and footer margins | Adjusts their spacing | Under a minute | The header or footer needs moving |
| Default settings | Reuses your page settings | Under a minute | New documents need the same layout |
Set exact margins with Page setup
Open your document on a computer and choose File > Page setup. Select Pages, then enter the measurements you need under Margins. Check the units displayed beside the fields before entering a value, then click OK to apply your changes.
For a document with multiple sections, check the scope before saving. Choose Whole document under Apply to if all sections should use the same measurements.
Restore missing page space
If you cannot find margin settings, open File > Page setup, select Pages, and click OK. Page margin controls are unavailable in Pageless format.
To show the page outlines, enable View > Show print layout. If the displayed space still needs changing, return to Page setup and adjust the measurements instead of changing the view again.
Adjust the reading width in Pageless
To keep Pageless, adjust the reading width rather than looking for page margins. Choose View > Text Width, then select Narrow, Medium, or Wide. Your choice applies to all pageless documents you view, but it does not change collaborators' viewing widths.
For control over the printed layout, switch back to Pages before setting margins. A pageless document can still be printed, but its appearance can change in the print preview.
Give one section different margins
Use section breaks to separate content that needs its own margins. Place the cursor where the layout should change and choose Insert > Break, then choose Section break (next page) or Section break (continuous). Click inside the section, open File > Page setup, and use Apply to to choose the section you want to change. Enter its margin measurements and click OK.
To see where breaks are located, choose View > Show non-printing characters. If you want to delete a page break instead, follow the steps for removing page breaks in Google Docs.
Adjust selected content with the ruler
In Pages format, select the text, graphics, or images you want to move. If the ruler is hidden, choose View > Show ruler. Drag the triangle at the top to the position you want for that selection. For a specified page margin measurement, use Page setup instead of judging the position visually.
Move headers and footers
In Pages format, click inside the header or footer you want to adjust. Choose Format > Headers & footers > More options, select the section or entire document under Apply to, enter the margin sizes, and click Apply. A margin size of 0 removes the corresponding header or footer space.
If your goal is to remove the header itself, follow the steps for removing a header from Google Docs. For body text margins, return to Page setup; use Google's header and footer instructions when you need help with those separate controls.
Make your preferred margins the default
Open File > Page setup, select Pages, and enter your preferred margins. Click Set as default, then OK to confirm. This applies the page settings to new documents you create, so choose it when you want to reuse the layout rather than only change the current document.
Use a computer for documents edited on mobile
If you are working in the Google Docs app on Android, iPhone, or iPad, use a computer for the margin changes described above. Google's mobile page setup instructions list Orientation, Paper size, and Page color, but do not document a margin control. Open the same document on a computer and use Page setup.
To check a document using Pages on your phone or tablet, open it and tap More. Turn on Print layout, then tap Edit if you want to edit while viewing that layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set one-inch margins in Google Docs?
Open File > Page setup > Pages on a computer and set each margin to one inch. If the fields display inches, enter 1 in each field, then click OK.
Can I reach the margin settings with a keyboard shortcut?
Press Alt + / on Windows or ChromeOS, or Option + / on Mac, to open tool finder. Search for Page setup and select it, then use the margin steps above.
Why are margin settings missing in Google Docs?
Check whether the document uses Pageless format. Switch to Pages for page margins, or use Text Width if you want to keep a pageless reading layout.
Can I change the margins on only one page?
Separate that page's content into its own section with section breaks. Then open Page setup inside that section and choose that section under Apply to before changing the margins.