Color can make a Word document easier to scan and more visually appealing, whether you’re coloring a heading, highlighting key points, shading a table, or giving a flyer a colored page. Word lets you change the color of almost everything: text, highlights, page backgrounds, table cells, borders, and the whole color theme. This guide shows where each setting lives so you can change exactly the color you want.
Change Text (Font) Color
- Select the text you want to change.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Font Color (the “A” with a colored bar under it).
- Pick a color from Theme Colors or Standard Colors.
For an exact shade, choose More Colors, open the Custom tab, and enter RGB or Hex values. Choose Gradient for a two-tone effect. To go back to normal, choose Automatic, which is usually black (or white on dark backgrounds). See also how to change the font color in Word.
Highlight Text
Highlighting adds color behind text, like a highlighter pen.
- Select the text.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Text Highlight Color (the marker icon) and pick a color.
To remove it, select the text and choose No Color. See how to highlight text in Word.
Shade a Paragraph
To color the background of a whole paragraph (not just the words), click in the paragraph, then use the Shading button (paint bucket) in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. This is useful for callout boxes and notes.
Change the Page Background Color
- Go to the Design tab.
- Click Page Color on the right.
- Choose a color, or select Fill Effects for gradients, textures, patterns, or a picture.
Page color applies to every page. By default, Word doesn’t print background colors; to print them, go to File > Options > Display and check Print background colors and images. If you only want color on one page, see how to change the background color on one page in Word.
Color Table Cells
- Select the cells.
- On the Table Design tab, click Shading and pick a color.
You can also apply a ready-made Table Style from the same tab for banded, colored rows.
Change Border Colors
For page or paragraph borders, go to Design > Page Borders (or Home > Borders > Borders and Shading), choose a style, then pick a Color before applying. For table borders, use Table Design > Pen Color and then Borders.
Change Bullet Colors
Bullets usually match the text color. To color them separately, click the arrow next to Bullets, choose Define New Bullet > Font, and pick a color. See how to change bullet color in Word.
Change the Whole Document’s Color Theme
Word’s theme colors control headings, table styles, charts, and SmartArt. To change them all at once, go to Design > Colors and choose a palette. Choose Customize Colors to create your own. This is the fastest way to give a document a consistent look, such as matching your company’s brand colors. See how to change the theme color in Word.
Color Shapes and Text Boxes
Select a shape or text box, then open the Shape Format tab. Use Shape Fill to change the inside color, Shape Outline for the border, and Text Fill for the text inside. You can also right-click and choose Format Shape for transparency and gradient options.
Word for Mac and Word for the Web
The same buttons appear on the Home and Design tabs in Word for Mac. In Word for the web, Font Color and Text Highlight Color are on the Home tab, and Page Color is on the Design tab, though some advanced options like Fill Effects are only available in the desktop app.
Change Word’s Own Interface Color
To change the look of Word itself (not your document), go to File > Account > Office Theme and choose Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, White, or Use system setting.
Tips for Using Color
- Keep contrast high. Light text on light backgrounds is hard to read, especially for people with low vision.
- Use theme colors. They update automatically if you switch themes, keeping your document consistent.
- Think about printing. Large color areas use a lot of ink and may not look the same on paper.
- Don’t rely on color alone. Use bold or labels too, so meaning isn’t lost in black-and-white printing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove all color from text?
Select the text and press Ctrl + Space to clear character formatting, or set Font Color to Automatic and highlight to No Color.
Why won’t my background color print?
Turn on Print background colors and images in File > Options > Display.
Summary
To change color in Word, use Home > Font Color for text, Text Highlight Color for highlights, Design > Page Color for the page background, Table Design > Shading for tables, and Design > Colors to change the whole theme at once.
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.