How to Highlight a Word in Canva: Step-by-Step

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Highlighting a word in Canva adds visual emphasis to your text, making key terms pop in presentations, social media posts, or flyers. This guide walks you through the built-in highlight tool and a manual shape method, so you can achieve the effect on any Canva plan. No prior design experience is needed.

What You’ll Need

A Canva account (free or Pro).
An existing design or a new blank canvas.
Text added to your canvas.

Step-by-Step

Open your design in Canva and select the text box that contains the word you want to highlight. Click on the text box so it is active.
Select the exact word by double-clicking the word inside the text box. The word will be highlighted in blue, indicating it is selected.
Locate the highlight tool in the top toolbar. Look for a small square icon with a letter “A” inside it, or the text labeled “Highlight”. On some layouts, you may need to click the three-dot “More” menu to find it.
Click the highlight icon. A color palette will appear.
Choose a highlight color from the palette. The selected word will immediately be highlighted with that color. You can also click the “+” or the color wheel to create a custom color.
Adjust the highlight thickness (optional): After applying the color, a small slider or dropdown may appear next to the highlight icon. Drag it to make the highlight thicker or thinner. If you don’t see it, click on the highlighted word again.
Remove the highlight (if needed): Select the word, click the highlight icon, and choose the “No highlight” option (usually a square with a slash or a transparent swatch).

Alternative method (using a shape):

Go to the Elements tab in the left sidebar.
Search for “rectangle” and select a solid rectangle shape.
Drag the rectangle behind your text. Resize it so it covers the word you want to highlight.
Send the rectangle behind the text: right-click the rectangle, select Position, then Send backward (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + [).
Adjust the rectangle’s color and opacity (via the transparency slider in the toolbar) to create a subtle highlight effect.

Common Mistakes

Selecting the whole text box instead of just the word: If you click once on the text box, the highlight tool will apply to the entire text. Always double-click to select the specific word.
Using the text color tool instead of the highlight tool: The text color tool (the “A” with a color bar at the bottom) changes the font color, not the background. The highlight tool has a small square behind the “A”.
Highlighting a word with a line break: If the word is split across two lines, the highlight may look broken. Try shortening the text or resizing the box so the word stays on one line.
Forgetting to update the highlight when editing text: If you change the word after highlighting, the highlight might not follow. Re-select the new word and reapply.

Tips

Use a semi-transparent highlight color for a more professional look. In the color palette, you can adjust the opacity slider (appears after selecting a color) to make the highlight less intense.
Match the highlight color to your brand palette for consistency. Use the brand kit (Pro feature) to save brand colors.
Combine highlight with bold or italics to draw even more attention to the word.
For a hand-drawn effect, use the “Marker” highlight style if available (Canva Pro offers different highlight styles like marker or brush).
Keyboard shortcut: After selecting the word, you can press Ctrl/Cmd + B to bold, but there is no direct shortcut for highlight.

Troubleshooting

Highlight tool is grayed out: This usually means the text is not selected. Double-click the word to activate the text editing mode.
Highlight not showing on export: Make sure you are exporting the correct page and that the highlight color is not pure white (which would be invisible on a white background).
Highlight appears behind the text: This is normal; the highlight is a background effect. If it is not visible, the text color may be too similar to the highlight color. Change the text color or the highlight color.
Can’t find the highlight icon: In some Canva views (like the mobile app), the highlight tool may be hidden under the “More” (three dots) menu in the text editing toolbar.
Highlight disappears when I change the font: Re-select the word and reapply the highlight. It may not carry over perfectly across font changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I highlight multiple words at once?

Yes, you can select multiple words by dragging your cursor over them (or holding Shift and clicking) and then applying the highlight. They will all be highlighted with the same color.

Does the highlight tool work on Canva’s free version?

Yes, the basic highlight tool is available on the free plan. Some additional highlight styles (like marker or brush) may be Pro-only.

Can I change the highlight color after applying it?

Yes, select the highlighted word again, click the highlight icon, and choose a new color. The highlight will update immediately.

Why does the highlight cover the whole line instead of just the word?

This happens when you select the entire text box or if the word is the only content in the box. Make sure you double-click to select just the word. Also, the highlight is designed to cover the line height, so it may extend above and below the word slightly.

Can I highlight text in Canva on the mobile app?

Yes, the mobile app has a highlight tool. Tap the text, select the word, then look for the “Highlight” option in the editing toolbar (it may be under the “More” menu).

How do I remove a highlight?

Select the highlighted word, click the highlight icon, and choose the “No highlight” option (usually a transparent swatch or a slash through a square).

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