When you create new documents in Google Docs, your pages will be vertical by default. This means that the top and bottom edges are shorter than the left and right edges.
This setting is called the page orientation, and it’s something that you can change for any document that you create in Google Docs.
Our guide below is going to show you how to make horizontal pages in Google Docs by switching to the landscape orientation found on the Page Setup menu in the application.
How to Make Horizontal Pages in Google Docs
The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser, but will also work in other desktop browsers like Firefox or Safari.
Step 1: Sign into Google Drive and open your document or create a new one.
Step 2: Select the File option at the top of the window.

Step 3: Choose Page setup at the bottom of the menu.

Step 4: Click the circle to the left of Landscape, then click OK at the bottom of the window.

Note that there is a Set as default button at the bottom-left of the Page setup window. If you click that after you choose the new page orientation then all future documents will be horizontal by default.
Changing the page orientation will cause every page in your document to become horizontal. It isn’t possible to have different page orientations within one document in Google Docs.
If you are changing to horizontal pages in Google Docs and your document already has content, then be sure to read through the document to ensure that various objects and page elements have not been negatively impacted by the change.
Additional reading
- How to change margins in Google Docs
- How to select all in Google Docs
- How to clear formatting in Google Docs
- How to change a link in Google Docs
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.