To center align text in Word, select the text (or click in the paragraph) and press Ctrl + E (Command + E on a Mac). You can also click the Center button in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. That centers text left to right. To center text top to bottom on the page, go to Layout > Page Setup dialog > Layout tab and set Vertical alignment to Center.
Below you’ll find how to center text, pictures, tables, and text inside table cells, plus fixes for text that won’t center.
How to center text horizontally
- Click inside the paragraph you want to center, or select several paragraphs.
- On the Home tab, click Center in the Paragraph group. Or press Ctrl + E.
Alignment applies to whole paragraphs, not individual words. To center one line inside a paragraph, press Enter before and after it so it becomes its own paragraph.
Alignment shortcuts
| Alignment | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Center | Ctrl + E | Command + E |
| Left | Ctrl + L | Command + L |
| Right | Ctrl + R | Command + R |
| Justify | Ctrl + J | Command + J |
How to center text vertically on a page
This is useful for title pages and cover letters.
- Click the Layout tab.
- Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.
- Open the Layout tab in the dialog box.
- Set Vertical alignment to Center.
- In Apply to, choose Whole document, or This section if you only want to center the cover page. Click OK.
To center only the first page, add a Section Break (Next Page) after it (Layout > Breaks) before setting the vertical alignment for that section.
How to center a picture
- In line with text (the default): Click the picture and press Ctrl + E, or click Center on the Home tab.
- With text wrapping: Click the picture, go to Picture Format > Align, and choose Align Center. Choose Align Middle too to center it on the page vertically. Make sure Align to Margin or Align to Page is checked in the same menu.
How to center a table and text in table cells
- Center the whole table on the page: Click the table’s move handle (the four-way arrow at the top-left corner) to select it, then press Ctrl + E. Or right-click, choose Table Properties, and set Alignment to Center.
- Center text inside cells: Select the cells, open the table’s Layout tab, and click Align Center in the Alignment group. This centers text both horizontally and vertically.
Why won’t my text center?
- Indents are uneven. A left or right indent shifts the center point. Go to Home > Paragraph dialog and set both indents to 0.
- Tabs or spaces are in the line. Turn on Show/Hide (Ctrl + Shift + 8) and delete extra spaces or tab characters before the text.
- It’s in a text box or shape. Select the text inside and center it there. To center the box, use Shape Format > Align.
- A style overrides it. Modify the style, or apply centering after the style.
Related: Align paragraphs in Word.
Frequently asked questions
How do I center text in Word on a phone?
Tap the paragraph, tap the A with a pencil icon (or the formatting arrow), open Home, and tap the Center button.
How do I center text in Word Online?
Click in the paragraph and click Center on the Home tab, or press Ctrl + E.
How do I center a heading in every chapter?
Right-click the heading style (like Heading 1) in the Styles gallery, choose Modify, click the Center button, and click OK. Every heading with that style updates.
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.