How to Make 1 Inch Margins on Google Docs

Making 1 inch margins on Google Docs is easy to do and helps create a clean, professional look for your documents. Default margins in Google Docs are 1 inch, but you may need to adjust them for school assignments, business reports, manuscripts, and more.

Follow these simple steps to set 1 inch margins on all sides in Google Docs.

Adjust Margins with the Ruler

One way to quickly change margins in Google Docs is by using the ruler.

To adjust margins with the ruler:

Open your document in Google Docs
Click View > Show Ruler in the top menu (if the ruler is not already displayed)

Hover your mouse over the edge of the ruler until it changes to a double-sided arrow
Drag the arrows on the ruler to set 1 inch margins

This method allows you to see the margins update in real-time as you adjust the ruler. It’s useful for precision and visual learners.

Set 1 Inch Margins in Page Setup

You can also change margins through the Page Setup menu:

To set 1 inch margins in Page Setup:

Open your Google Doc

Click File > Page setup in the top menu
Under Margins, update the values to 1 inch for all sides
Click OK

This applies 1 inch margins evenly on all sides of the page.

Pro Tip: To set 1.5 inch margins, enter 1.5 inches or 1.5" with the quotes.

Use Default Margins

Google Docs has a “Default Margins” preset that applies 1 inch margins on all sides:

To use the default margins preset:

Open your Google Doc
Click File > Page setup

Click the Margins dropdown
Select Default
Click OK

The default margins in Google Docs are already 1 inch. This option sets all sides to 1 inch in one click.

Set Narrow Margins

To make 0.5 inch margins on all sides:

Open your Google Doc

Click File > Page setup
Click the Margins dropdown
Choose Narrow

Click OK

Narrow margins in Google Docs are 0.5 inches on all sides.

Custom Margins

For more precision, use the Custom margins option:

Open your Google Doc
Click File > Page setup
Click the Margins dropdown

Select Custom margins
Enter 1" or 1 inch for all sides
Click OK

This applies exactly 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right.

Set Margins on Mobile

To change margins on mobile devices:

Android: Tap the 3-dot menu > Page setup > Margins

iPhone & iPad: Tap the 3-lines > Document settings > Margins

Then choose Default, Wide, Narrow, or Custom margins.

With these simple steps, you can easily apply 1 inch margins in Google Docs on desktop or mobile. Adjusting page margins helps content fit perfectly and makes documents look clean and professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about setting 1 inch margins in Google Docs:

Why would I need 1 inch margins?

One inch margins are a common requirement for school assignments, business reports, book manuscripts, and any document that needs a clean, professional look. 1 inch margins prevent text from looking crammed and create white space around page content.

Can I set different margins per page?

Unfortunately, Google Docs does not allow you to set different margins for individual pages in the same document. The margin settings apply to all pages.

Do margins affect the whole document?

Yes, any changes to margins in Google Docs will apply to every page in the document. There is no way to exclude certain pages.

What do default margins look like?

The default margins in Google Docs are 1 inch on all sides of the page – top, bottom, left, and right. So if you haven’t changed your margins, they are likely already set to 1 inch.

Can I undo margin changes?

Yes! After adjusting margins, you can undo your changes by pressing Ctrl + Z (Windows) or ⌘ + Z (Mac). You can also click File > Version history > See version history and revert to an older version.

How do I change margins on mobile?

On an Android device, tap the 3-dot menu in the top right > Page setup > Margins
On an iPhone or iPad, tap the 3 horizontal lines > Document settings > Margins