How to Center Text in Word: Horizontal, Vertical & Text Box

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to center text in Microsoft Word in three common scenarios: horizontally on a line, vertically on a page, and inside a text box or shape. You’ll learn the exact menu commands and keyboard shortcuts for each method, so your documents look polished and professional.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word (2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365; steps are similar in older versions)
A document with some text you want to center

Step-by-Step

Horizontal Centering (Left-to-Right)

Open your Word document and select the text you want to center. This can be a single line, a paragraph, or multiple paragraphs.
Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
In the Paragraph group, click the Center icon (it looks like centered horizontal lines). Alternatively, press Ctrl+E on Windows or Cmd+E on Mac.
The selected text will now be centered between the left and right margins.

Vertical Centering (Top-to-Bottom on a Page)

This centers text so it appears in the middle of the page from top to bottom. Useful for title pages or certificates.

Place your cursor anywhere on the page you want to center vertically. If you want the entire document, select all text (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A).
Go to the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions).
Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group to open the dialog box.
Click the Layout tab within the dialog box.
Under Page, find Vertical alignment and select Center from the drop-down menu.
In the Apply to drop-down, choose Whole document or This section (if you have section breaks).
Click OK. The text on that page(s) will now be vertically centered.

Centering Text Inside a Text Box or Shape

Click on the text box or shape to select it. You’ll see a border with handles.
Right-click the border of the text box and choose Format Shape from the context menu. (Alternatively, go to the Shape Format tab and click Format Pane.)
The Format Shape pane will open on the right side. Click the Text Options tab (it looks like a small square with an ‘A’).
Click the Textbox icon (the third icon under Text Options).
Under Vertical alignment, choose Middle from the drop-down.
To center horizontally within the box, select the text inside the box and use the Center button on the Home tab (or press Ctrl+E).
You can also adjust internal margins by changing the Left, Right, Top, and Bottom values in the same pane.

Common Mistakes

Centering the wrong element: For vertical centering, you must change the page setup, not just the paragraph alignment. Selecting text and clicking the center icon only affects horizontal alignment.
Forgetting to apply to the right section: If your document has multiple sections, vertical alignment applies only to the section where your cursor is. Always check the Apply to drop-down.
Text box not selected: When using Format Shape, make sure you click the border of the text box, not the text inside. Otherwise, you might format the text, not the box.
Using spaces or tabs to center: This is unreliable and makes editing difficult. Always use the built-in alignment tools.

Tips

For a title page, combine vertical centering with horizontal centering: set page vertical alignment to Center, then use Ctrl+E to center the title text horizontally.
Use keyboard shortcuts to save time: Ctrl+E (center), Ctrl+L (left), Ctrl+R (right), Ctrl+J (justify).
If you want to center a single page in a multi-page document, insert a section break before and after that page, then apply vertical alignment to that section only.
In a text box, you can also use the Align Text buttons on the Shape Format tab to quickly set vertical alignment (Top, Middle, Bottom).

Troubleshooting

Text doesn’t center vertically: Check that you’re in the correct section. If you want the whole document, make sure there are no section breaks. Also, verify that you clicked Layout tab, not Home.
Text box doesn’t center text vertically: Ensure you’re in the Text Options tab of the Format Shape pane, not the Shape Options tab. The vertical alignment setting is under Textbox.
Centering works but then reverts: This can happen if you have conflicting styles. Select the text, right-click, and choose Paragraph. Check that the alignment is set to Center and that the style isn’t overriding it.
Can’t find the Page Setup dialog: In some versions, the arrow is in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group on the Layout tab. If you don’t see it, double-click the ruler area to open the dialog.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I center text horizontally and vertically at the same time?

To center text both ways, first use the vertical alignment method (Page Setup > Layout > Vertical alignment > Center). Then select the text and press Ctrl+E for horizontal centering. This works well for title pages.

Why is my text not centering vertically in Word?

The most common reason is that you haven’t changed the vertical alignment in the Page Setup dialog. Also, ensure you’re applying it to the correct section. If you’re using a text box, you need to adjust the vertical alignment within the text box’s Format Shape options.

Can I center text vertically on only one page?

Yes. Insert a section break before and after the page you want to center. Then place your cursor on that page, open Page Setup, and choose ‘This section’ in the Apply to drop-down.

What is the keyboard shortcut for centering text?

Press Ctrl+E (Windows) or Cmd+E (Mac) to center text horizontally. There’s no direct shortcut for vertical centering; you must use the Page Setup dialog.

How do I center text in a text box in Word?

Select the text box, right-click its border, choose Format Shape, go to Text Options > Textbox, and set Vertical alignment to Middle. For horizontal centering, select the text inside and use the Center button or Ctrl+E.

Does vertical centering affect the whole document?

Only if you choose ‘Whole document’ in the Apply to drop-down. By default, it applies to the current section. If you have no section breaks, the whole document is one section, so it will affect everything.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.