How to Insert a Text Box in Word
Normal text in Word flows from top to bottom. A text box lets you put text anywhere on the page — a pull quote beside an article, a label on a picture, or a sidebar in a newsletter.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Insert a text box | Insert → Text Box → Draw Text Box |
| Remove the border | Shape Format → Shape Outline → No Outline |
| Move it anywhere | Layout Options → In Front of Text |
| Rotate text | Shape Format → Text Direction |
1. Insert a text box
1. Go to Insert → Text Box.
2. Choose a ready-made design, or Draw Text Box.
3. If drawing, drag a rectangle on the page.
4. Start typing.
2. Choose a ready-made design, or Draw Text Box.
3. If drawing, drag a rectangle on the page.
4. Start typing.
2. Remove the border or add a background
With the text box selected, open the Shape Format tab:
• Shape Outline → No Outline removes the black border.
• Shape Fill adds a background colour. No Fill makes it transparent.
• Shape Fill adds a background colour. No Fill makes it transparent.
3. Move it freely
Click the Layout Options icon that appears next to the text box and choose:
• Square — text wraps around the box.
• In Front of Text — the box floats over everything and can go anywhere.
• Behind Text — the box sits under your text.
• In Front of Text — the box floats over everything and can go anywhere.
• Behind Text — the box sits under your text.
Then drag the box by its border to position it.
4. Resize and rotate
• Drag the white corner handles to resize.
• Drag the curved arrow at the top to rotate the whole box.
• To run text vertically, use Shape Format → Text Direction.
• Drag the curved arrow at the top to rotate the whole box.
• To run text vertically, use Shape Format → Text Direction.
5. Link text boxes (newsletter trick)
Want an article to continue in another box on a different page?
1. Create both text boxes. Leave the second one empty.
2. Click the first box.
3. Shape Format → Create Link.
4. Click the empty second box.
2. Click the first box.
3. Shape Format → Create Link.
4. Click the empty second box.
Text that doesn't fit in the first box flows into the second automatically.
6. Change the inner spacing
Right-click the box → Format Shape → Text Options → Layout & Properties to set the internal margins, or tick Resize shape to fit text.
Troubleshooting
I can't select the text box, only the text. Click exactly on its border — the cursor becomes a four-way arrow.
Text is cut off at the bottom. The box is too small. Drag it bigger or tick Resize shape to fit text.
It jumps when I edit. In Layout Options, choose Fix position on page.
Wrapping up
Insert → Text Box → Draw Text Box, No Outline for a clean look, and In Front of Text so you can place it anywhere.
