To change a border color in Word, open the Borders and Shading dialog, pick a new Color, and apply it. For a page border, go to Design > Page Borders. For a paragraph or text border, select the text and go to Home > the Borders arrow > Borders and Shading. For a table, click inside it and use Table Design > Pen Color. Shapes, text boxes, and pictures use Shape Outline or Picture Border instead.
Below are step-by-step instructions for each type of border, plus tips for making colors consistent and fixing borders that won’t change.
Change the color of a page border
- Go to the Design tab and click Page Borders (on the far right).
- On the Page Border tab, choose a Setting such as Box if you don’t have a border yet.
- Open the Color menu and pick a color. Click More Colors for a custom shade or exact RGB value.
- Adjust Style and Width if you like.
- Under Apply to, choose the whole document or a section, then click OK.
Decorative Art borders (the patterned ones) mostly use fixed colors. Only some black-and-white art borders accept a color change.
Change the color of a paragraph or text border
- Select the paragraph or text with the border.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button and choose Borders and Shading.
- On the Borders tab, pick a new Color.
- In the Preview area, click each side of the diagram to reapply the border in the new color, or choose a Setting again.
- Check Apply to (Paragraph or Text) and click OK.
Changing the color alone doesn’t recolor existing lines; you have to reapply the border sides after picking the color, which is the step most people miss.
Change the color of table borders
- Click inside the table, or select the cells you want to change.
- On the Table Design tab, click Pen Color and choose a color.
- Optionally set Line Style and Line Weight.
- Click the Borders arrow and choose which borders to apply, such as All Borders or Outside Borders.
You can also click Border Painter and click individual lines in the table to paint just those borders.
Change the outline color of a shape or text box
- Click the shape or text box border to select it.
- On the Shape Format tab, click Shape Outline.
- Choose a color, and set Weight or Dashes if needed. Choose No Outline to remove the border.
Change the border color of a picture
- Click the picture.
- On the Picture Format tab, click Picture Border.
- Pick a color and weight.
Where to find each border setting
| Border type | Where to change the color |
|---|---|
| Page border | Design > Page Borders > Color |
| Paragraph or text border | Home > Borders > Borders and Shading > Color |
| Table border | Table Design > Pen Color, then Borders |
| Shape or text box | Shape Format > Shape Outline |
| Picture | Picture Format > Picture Border |
Tips for consistent colors
- Use theme colors from the top rows of the color menu. If you later change the document theme under Design > Colors, every border using theme colors updates automatically.
- Use exact values for branding. In More Colors > Custom, enter RGB values or a hex code so borders match your logo.
- Save a table style. In Table Design, create a new table style with your border color so future tables match.
- Check printing. Light colors such as pale gray may barely show on paper. Print a test page first.
Troubleshooting
- The border color didn’t change: Reapply the border sides in the Preview after picking the new color.
- Only part of the table changed: Select the whole table (click the four-arrow handle at the top-left corner) before applying borders.
- The page border doesn’t show: Make sure you’re in Print Layout view, and check the border’s margin settings in Options.
- Color options are grayed out: The document may be in Compatibility Mode or protected. Use File > Info to check.
Related: How to add borders in Microsoft Word.
Related: How to add outside borders in Word.
Related: Add a drop cap in Word.
Related: Insert a checkbox in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make each side of a border a different color?
Yes. In Borders and Shading, pick a color, click one side in the Preview, then pick another color and click the next side.
How do I remove a border instead of recoloring it?
Open the same Borders and Shading dialog and choose None, or for tables use Borders > No Border. Shapes use Shape Outline > No Outline.
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. Page borders are under Design > Page Borders, and table border colors are on the Table Design tab.
Can I change border colors in Word for the web?
Table border colors can be changed; page border options are more limited than in the desktop app.
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.
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