To reduce the gap between lines in Word, select the text, open Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing (the icon with arrows and lines) and choose 1.0. If there are still big gaps between paragraphs, open the same menu and choose Remove Space After Paragraph. For even tighter lines, set the line spacing to Multiple and a value below 1, such as 0.9, in the Paragraph dialog.
Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac, and Word for the web. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Two kinds of gap
- Line spacing is the space between lines inside a paragraph. Word’s default is 1.08.
- Paragraph spacing is extra space added before or after each paragraph, every time you press Enter. Word adds 8 pt after each paragraph by default.
Most “too much space” problems are paragraph spacing, not line spacing.
Step 1: Set single line spacing
- Select the text, or press Ctrl + A for the whole document.
- Select Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing.
- Choose 1.0.
Shortcut: press Ctrl + 1 for single spacing (and Ctrl + 2 for double).
Step 2: Remove space between paragraphs
- With the text selected, open Line and Paragraph Spacing again.
- Choose Remove Space After Paragraph. If you see Remove Space Before Paragraph, choose that too.
For precise control, open the Paragraph dialog (the small arrow in the corner of the Paragraph group) and set Before and After to 0 pt, or a small value like 3 pt. Ticking Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style removes the gaps inside lists and blocks of text while keeping space around headings.
Step 3: Go tighter than single spacing
- Open the Paragraph dialog.
- Under Line spacing, choose Multiple.
- In At, type a value such as 0.9 or 0.85, and select OK.
Go down gradually. Below about 0.8, the tops of tall letters and accents start to get cut off. For a fixed gap whatever the font size, choose Exactly and enter a point size, such as 12 pt for 11 pt text.
Use Shift + Enter for short lines
In addresses, poems or signature blocks, press Shift + Enter instead of Enter. This starts a new line in the same paragraph, so Word doesn’t add paragraph spacing between the lines.
Make it the default for new documents
- Open the Paragraph dialog and set the line and paragraph spacing you want.
- Select Set As Default.
- Choose All documents based on the Normal template and select OK.
On a Mac and in Word for the web
The Line and Paragraph Spacing button is on the Home tab in both. On a Mac, open the full settings with Format > Paragraph. In Word for the web, select Line Spacing Options at the bottom of the menu to set exact values.
Reduce spacing in tables and lists
- Tables: select the table, set line spacing and paragraph spacing as above, then select Table Layout > Cell Margins and reduce the top and bottom margins. Rows with a fixed Height in Table Properties won’t shrink below that height.
- Bulleted and numbered lists: lists use the List Paragraph style, which may have its own spacing. Select the list and set After to 0 pt, or tick Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between 1.0 and 1.15 line spacing?
1.15 adds 15% extra space between lines, which many people find easier to read. 1.0 is tighter and fits more text on a page.
Why does pasted text have different spacing?
It brought its own formatting. Paste with Ctrl + Shift + V or choose Keep Text Only so it takes on your document’s spacing.
Fix gaps that won’t shrink
One line has a much bigger gap than the rest
A large character, inline picture or equation on that line pushes it apart when spacing is set to Single or At least. Choose Exactly instead, or make the picture’s text wrapping Square rather than In Line with Text.
Spacing stays large whatever you set
The text may be snapping to a document grid, which some templates and Asian-language fonts use. In the Paragraph dialog, clear Snap to grid when document grid is defined.
Gaps are between words, not lines
That’s a different problem; see how to fix weird spacing between words in Word.
Empty lines are causing the space
Select Home > Show/Hide (¶) and delete extra paragraph marks. See how to remove extra space in Word.
Related guides
Related: how to scale a document in Word.
Related: How to Set Multiple Tabs in Word.
Related: how to adjust spacing 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.