To add a border to a picture in Word 2013, click the picture to select it, then go to the Picture Tools Format tab and click Picture Border. Choose a color, then use Weight to set the thickness and Dashes to pick a line style. For a ready-made frame, pick one of the Picture Styles on the same tab instead. The same steps work in Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365, where the tab is called Picture Format.
Below are all the ways to add, customize, and remove a picture border, plus fixes if the option is grayed out.
How to add a simple border to a picture
- Click the picture once to select it.
- Click the Format tab under Picture Tools at the top of the window.
- Click Picture Border in the Picture Styles group.
- Choose a color from the palette, or click More Outline Colors for a custom color.
- Click Picture Border > Weight and choose a thickness, like 3 pt or 6 pt.
- Optional: click Picture Border > Dashes for a dotted or dashed line.
How to use a Picture Style for a frame
- Select the picture and click the Format tab.
- In the Picture Styles gallery, hover over a style to preview it. Click the More arrow to see them all.
- Click a style, such as Simple Frame, White, Thick Matte, Black, or Rounded Diagonal Corner.
You can combine a style with Picture Border to change its frame color.
How to customize the border in the Format Picture pane
- Right-click the picture and choose Format Picture.
- Click the Fill & Line icon (paint bucket) and expand Line.
- Choose Solid line or Gradient line, then set the color, transparency, width, compound type (like a double line), and dash type.
This is useful for effects like a double-line frame or a semi-transparent border.
How to add a shadow, glow, or 3D edge
Click Picture Effects on the Format tab and choose Shadow, Glow, Soft Edges, or Bevel. A subtle outer shadow plus a thin border makes photos stand out on the page.
How to remove a picture border
Select the picture, click Picture Border, and choose No Outline. To remove a Picture Style, click Reset Picture in the Adjust group. Note that Reset Picture also removes other edits like color changes, but not cropping in newer versions.
Border option grayed out?
- The document is in Compatibility Mode. Files saved in the older .doc format limit picture tools. Click File > Info > Convert to update it to .docx.
- It’s not a picture. SmartArt, charts, and text boxes have their own border options, such as Shape Outline.
- The picture is in the header or background. Double-click the header to edit it first.
Picture border vs. page border
A picture border frames only the image. To put a border around the whole page, go to Design > Page Borders in Word 2013 (or Page Layout > Page Borders in Word 2010).
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a border to several pictures at once?
Yes, if they aren’t set to In Line with Text. Hold Ctrl and click each picture, then apply the border. For inline pictures, apply it to one, then use Format Painter on the others.
How do I make the border thicker than 6 pt?
Choose Picture Border > Weight > More Lines, and type a larger width.
How do I crop a picture before adding a border?
See how to crop a picture in Word.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.