Word’s margin settings normally apply to a section, not arbitrarily to a single page. To give one page different margins, place that page in its own section with section breaks before and after it, then apply the margin change to that section.
How to Change the Margins on One Page in Word
Step 1: Place the cursor before the page
Click at the beginning of the content that should use different margins.
Step 2: Insert a section break
Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks. This starts a new section on that page.
Step 3: Insert another section break after the page
Click at the end of the page’s content and insert another Next Page section break. The target page is now isolated from the sections before and after it.
Step 4: Click inside the target section
Place the insertion point anywhere on the page whose margins you want to change.
Step 5: Open the margin settings
Select Layout > Margins. Choose a preset, or select Custom Margins for specific measurements.
Step 6: Apply the margins to this section
In the Page Setup dialog, make sure the Apply to setting is This section, then confirm the change.
Why Section Breaks Are Necessary
A normal page break only moves text to the next page. It does not create a separate page-layout region. Section breaks let Word use different margins, orientation, columns, headers, and other layout settings in different portions of the same document.
Section breaks can also affect headers, footers, and page numbering. If those elements change unexpectedly, inspect the header/footer settings and the Link to Previous option before deleting the section breaks.
Additional Information
Turn on formatting marks if you need help locating section breaks. Deleting a section break can cause the neighboring section’s page formatting to change, so save a copy before restructuring a complex document.
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.