Double spacing adds a full blank line’s worth of space between lines of text, which is required by many schools, publishers and style guides such as MLA and APA. In Word you can double space selected text, the whole document, or set it as the default for new documents. This guide covers every method in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021/2019/2016/2013/2010 and Word for Mac, and explains why spacing sometimes looks wrong.
Quick Answer
Select your text (press Ctrl + A for everything), then go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing and choose 2.0. Or press Ctrl + 2.
Method 1: Line Spacing Button
- Select the text, or press Ctrl + A to select the whole document.
- On the Home tab, click Line and Paragraph Spacing (lines with up and down arrows) in the Paragraph group.
- Choose 2.0.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut
Select the text and press Ctrl + 2 for double spacing. Ctrl + 1 returns to single spacing and Ctrl + 5 sets 1.5 spacing. On a Mac, use Command + 2.
Method 3: Paragraph Dialog (Exact Settings)
- Select the text.
- Click the small arrow in the corner of the Paragraph group (or choose Line Spacing Options).
- Under Spacing, set Line spacing to Double.
- Set Before and After to 0 pt if your style guide requires no extra space between paragraphs (MLA and APA do).
- Click OK.
Double Space the Whole Document (Including Future Text)
- Design tab: go to Design > Paragraph Spacing and choose Double. This applies to the document’s styles.
- Normal style: right-click Normal in the Styles gallery > Modify > Format > Paragraph, set Double, and choose New documents based on this template to make it the default for all new documents.
Word 2010 and Word for Mac
- Word 2010: the Line and Paragraph Spacing button is on the Home tab; Paragraph Spacing presets are on the Page Layout tab.
- Mac: select text, click Line and Paragraph Spacing on the Home tab and choose 2.0, or use Format > Paragraph.
Why Double Spacing Looks Wrong
- Extra gap between paragraphs: Word adds space After paragraphs by default. Set Before and After to 0 pt.
- Only part changed: you selected only some text. Press Ctrl + A and apply again.
- Headers, footnotes and tables aren’t double spaced: they have separate styles; select them individually.
- Line spacing set to Exactly: large fonts get cut off. Use Double or Multiple instead.
Seeing too much space instead? Learn how to remove extra space in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is double spacing the same as 2.0?
Yes. “Double” in the Paragraph dialog and 2.0 in the menu give the same result.
How do I double space in Google Docs?
Click Format > Line & paragraph spacing > Double.
Does double spacing affect page count?
Yes. It roughly doubles the number of pages compared with single spacing.
Summary
- Select text or press Ctrl + A.
- Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0, or press Ctrl + 2.
- Set spacing Before and After to 0 pt if required.
- Modify the Normal style to make it the default.
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.