How to Add a Vertical Line in Google Docs: 5 Easy Methods

Google Docs has a menu option for horizontal lines but none for vertical lines, so adding one takes a small workaround. The good news is that there are several, and each suits a different job: a drawn line you can place anywhere, a divider between columns, a border down the side of a paragraph, or a borderless table with one visible edge. This guide covers all of them, with the steps for each and tips on which to pick.

Quick answer

The most flexible method is Insert > Drawing > + New. Choose the Line tool, hold Shift while you drag from top to bottom to keep the line perfectly straight, then click Save and close. The line drops into your document at the cursor, and you can resize or move it like an image.

Method 1: Draw a vertical line with the Drawing tool

1. Click where you want the line to appear.
2. Go to Insert > Drawing > + New. A drawing canvas opens.
3. Click the Line icon in the toolbar (or open its dropdown and choose Line).
4. Hold Shift and drag straight down on the canvas. Shift locks the angle so the line stays vertical.
5. Use the toolbar to change the line color, line weight (thickness) and line dash (solid, dotted or dashed).
6. Click Save and close.

To position the line, click it in the document and choose a wrapping option from the bar under it. Wrap text lets text flow around it, while Behind text or In front of text lets you drag it anywhere on the page. To change its length later, drag the blue handles, or double-click the line to reopen the drawing editor.

Method 2: Add a line between columns

If you want a vertical divider between two columns of text, as in a newsletter or brochure, let Google Docs draw it for you.

1. Select the text you want in columns (or the whole document).
2. Go to Format > Columns > More options.
3. Pick the number of columns and tick Line between columns.
4. Click Apply.

The line runs the full height of the column area and adjusts automatically as you add text. Our guide on adding a line between columns in Google Docs covers this method in more detail, including column spacing.

Method 3: Add a left or right paragraph border

A paragraph border creates a vertical bar beside a block of text, which works well for pull quotes, notes and callouts.

1. Select the paragraph or paragraphs.
2. Go to Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading.
3. In the Position row, click only the left (or right) border button.
4. Set the Border width, Border color and Border dash, and adjust Paragraph padding to control the gap between the line and the text.
5. Click Apply.

The line grows and shrinks with the paragraph, so it always fits the text.

Method 4: Use a table with one visible border

For a two-part layout, such as a résumé with a sidebar, a table gives you the most control.

1. Go to Insert > Table and choose a 2 x 1 table.
2. Select the whole table, open Format > Table > Table properties, and set the border width to 0 pt to hide every border.
3. Click inside the left cell, click the small arrow on its right edge (or use the border buttons in the toolbar), and give only that edge a width of 1 pt or more.

You end up with a single vertical line between the two cells. If you later want the line gone, see how to remove a border in Google Docs.

Method 5: Type a vertical bar character

For a short divider inside a line of text, such as “Home | About | Contact”, type the pipe character. On most keyboards it is Shift + Backslash (\). You can also use Insert > Special characters and search for “vertical line” to find longer or heavier versions.

Which method should you use?

• Drawing: any position, any length, any style. Best for one-off design elements.
• Line between columns: newsletters and multi-column layouts.
• Paragraph border: quotes, notes and highlighted sections.
• Table border: structured two-column layouts like résumés and forms.
• Pipe character: short separators within a line.

Related: Group objects in Google Drawings.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my drawn line not straight?

You probably released Shift before finishing the drag. Double-click the line, delete it, and draw it again while holding Shift the whole time.

Can I add a vertical line in the Google Docs mobile app?

The mobile app cannot create drawings, but it can display them. Add the line on a computer, and it will appear when you open the file on your phone. Paragraph borders and column lines also carry over.

How do I add a horizontal line instead?

Use Insert > Horizontal line. If you need to delete one later, see our guide to removing a horizontal line in Google Docs.

Summary

1. Insert > Drawing > + New, draw a line holding Shift, and save it.
2. Or use Format > Columns > More options > Line between columns.
3. Or add a left or right paragraph border in Borders and shading.
4. Or use a borderless table with one visible edge.
5. Or type a pipe character for short dividers.

Kermit Matthews

Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.