To change the header margin in Google Docs, double-click the header to open it, click Options > Header format, type a new value in the Header margin box, and click Apply. You can also go to Format > Headers & footers. The header margin is the distance from the top edge of the page to the header text. The default is 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
The header margin is separate from the page’s top margin, which controls where your main text starts. Here’s how to adjust both, and how to fix a header that won’t move.
How to change the header margin
Method 1: From the header
- Open your document and double-click the header area at the top of any page. If there’s no header yet, choose Insert > Headers & footers > Header.
- Click Options below the header, then Header format.
- Under Margins, enter a new Header value. Smaller numbers move the header closer to the top of the page.
- Click Apply.
Method 2: From the Format menu
- Click Format > Headers & footers.
- Enter the Header and Footer margins.
- Click Apply.
The measurement unit (inches or centimeters) follows your Docs settings. Change it in Tools > Preferences > General > Units.
Header margin vs. top margin
| Setting | What it controls | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Header margin | Space between the top of the page and the header text | Options > Header format |
| Top margin | Where the body text starts | File > Page setup, or drag the ruler |
| Footer margin | Space between the bottom of the page and the footer text | Options > Footer format |
If your header is tall, Google Docs pushes the body text down automatically so they don’t overlap. To bring the body text closer to the header, reduce the top margin in File > Page setup.
Other header settings in Header format
- Different first page: Use a different header, or none, on page 1. Handy for title pages.
- Different odd & even: Use different headers on left and right pages, like in a printed book.
If your document has section breaks, each section can have its own header. Uncheck Link to previous in a section’s header to make it independent. Header margins apply to the section you’re editing.
Header won’t move? Try these fixes
- No header options at all: Your document may be in Pageless format, which doesn’t have headers. Switch in File > Page setup > Pages.
- Extra blank lines: Empty lines inside the header make it look lower. Click in the header and delete them.
- Paragraph spacing: Select the header text and choose Format > Line & paragraph spacing > Remove space before paragraph.
- Printer cut-off: Most printers can’t print right to the edge. Keep the header margin at about 0.25 inches or more if you’ll print.
How to change the header margin on a phone or tablet
The Google Docs app lets you add and edit header text, but header margin options may be limited. For full control, open the document in a web browser on a computer, or request the desktop site in your mobile browser.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default header margin in Google Docs?
0.5 inches, or 1.27 cm, for both headers and footers.
Can I set the header margin to zero?
Google Docs may not accept 0, and many printers cut off text that close to the edge. Try a small value like 0.2 inches.
How do I remove a header?
Double-click the header, click Options > Remove header.
How do I change the header color?
See how to change the header color in Google Docs.
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.