To adjust spacing in Word, select the text and go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing (the icon with up and down arrows). Choose a number such as 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 to change the space between lines, or Remove Space After Paragraph to tighten gaps between paragraphs. For exact control, open Line Spacing Options. To change the space between letters, use Font > Advanced > Spacing.
Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac, and Word for the web. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.
Line spacing (space between lines)
- Select the text, or press Ctrl+A for the whole document.
- Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing.
- Choose 1.0 (single), 1.15 (Word’s default), 1.5, 2.0 (double), 2.5 or 3.0.
Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+1 for single, Ctrl+5 for 1.5 and Ctrl+2 for double spacing. For school papers, see how to do double spacing in Word.
Exact line spacing
Select Line Spacing Options. Under Line spacing, choose:
- Multiple and type a value such as 1.2 for in-between spacing.
- Exactly and a point size, such as 14 pt, for a fixed line height. Large images or symbols may get cut off with this setting.
- At least to set a minimum that grows for larger text.
Paragraph spacing (space between paragraphs)
- Select the paragraphs.
- Go to the Layout tab.
- Under Spacing, set Before and After in points. 0 pt removes the gap; 6 pt is a small gap; 12 pt is about one blank line at 12-point text.
If paragraphs of the same style still have a gap, open Line Spacing Options and untick or tick Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style. To clean up gaps across a whole document, see how to remove extra space in Word.
Character spacing (space between letters)
- Select the text.
- Press Ctrl+D to open the Font box, then select the Advanced tab.
- Set Spacing to Expanded or Condensed and enter an amount, such as 1 pt.
- Tick Kerning for fonts to tighten awkward letter pairs in headings.
- Select OK.
Word spacing (space between words)
Word has no word-spacing setting. Uneven gaps between words usually come from Justify alignment, double spaces, or a font issue. Try Align Left (Ctrl+L), or use Find and Replace to replace two spaces with one. More fixes are in how to fix weird spacing between words in Word.
Spacing for common document types
- APA and MLA papers: double spacing (2.0) everywhere, with 0 pt before and after paragraphs.
- Business letters: single spacing (1.0) with one blank line, or 12 pt after, between paragraphs.
- Resumes: 1.0 to 1.15 line spacing with 4 to 6 pt after each paragraph, so sections stay compact but readable.
- Reports read on screen: Word’s default 1.15 with 8 pt after is easy on the eyes.
Spacing in lists and tables
Bulleted and numbered lists use the same paragraph spacing as other text. If the items look too far apart, select the list, open Line Spacing Options and tick Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style. In a table, the space around text is set by cell margins: select the table, go to Table Layout > Cell Margins, and lower the top and bottom values. Row height can also hold rows open, so set Height to a smaller value or At least on the Table Layout tab.
Change the default spacing for new documents
- Go to Home, right-click the Normal style and select Modify.
- Select Format > Paragraph and set the line and paragraph spacing.
- Select OK, choose New documents based on this template, and select OK.
Or use Design > Paragraph Spacing to pick a preset like Compact or Double, then Set as Default.
Troubleshooting
Spacing doesn’t change
The text may use a style with fixed spacing, or Exactly is set. Open Line Spacing Options and switch to Multiple or Single.
Lines are uneven within a paragraph
Something on that line, such as an inline picture, equation or larger font, is taller than the rest. Use Exactly spacing or make the item smaller. See how to reduce the gap between lines.
There’s a big gap at the bottom of a page
That’s usually a page break or Keep with next setting, not spacing. Check Line and Page Breaks in the Paragraph dialog.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between 1.0 and 1.15 spacing?
1.15 adds 15% more room between lines than single spacing, which makes screen reading easier. Word uses it by default.
How do I see where spacing comes from?
Select text and press Shift+F1 to open Reveal Formatting, which lists the exact spacing settings.
Can I adjust spacing in Word for the web?
Yes, line spacing and paragraph spacing are on the Home and Layout tabs. Character spacing needs the desktop app.
Related: How to Set Multiple Tabs in Word.
Related: How to Display Word Count in Word.
Related: how to alphabetize in Word.
Related: how to delete blank lines in Word.
Related: How to Turn On Automatic Hyphenation in Word.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.