To insert a text box in Google Docs, click Insert > Drawing > + New. In the Drawing window, click the Text box icon (a T in a box), drag on the canvas to draw the box, and type your text. Click Save and close, and the text box appears in your document. Google Docs doesn’t have a separate text box button, so the Drawing tool or a one-cell table are the two ways to do it.
Here’s how to use both methods, style and move the box, and edit it later.
Method 1: Insert a text box with the Drawing tool
- Click where you want the text box in your document.
- Click Insert > Drawing > + New.
- Click the Text box icon in the toolbar.
- Click and drag on the canvas to draw the box.
- Type your text. Use the toolbar to change the font, size, color, and alignment.
- Click Save and close.
Add a border or background color
In the Drawing window, select the text box, then use the Fill color (paint bucket), Border color (pencil), Border weight, and Border dash buttons. Text boxes have no border by default, so add one if you want the box to stand out.
Use a shape instead
For a rounded box, callout, or arrow, click Shape > Shapes in the Drawing window, draw it, and double-click the shape to type inside it.
Method 2: Use a one-cell table as a text box
A table is easier to edit and stays in line with your text, which is handy for notes or callouts.
- Click Insert > Table and choose 1 x 1.
- Type inside the cell.
- Right-click the table and choose Table properties to change the border color, width, cell background, and padding.
How to edit, move, or wrap a text box
- Edit: Double-click the text box, or click it and choose Edit, to reopen the Drawing window. Make changes, then click Save and close.
- Move: Click the drawing and choose a wrapping option in the toolbar below it, like Wrap text or In front of text. Then drag it anywhere on the page.
- Resize: Click the drawing and drag the blue corner handles.
- Delete: Click the drawing and press Delete.
Text box vs. table
| Drawing text box | One-cell table | |
|---|---|---|
| Free placement on the page | Yes | No, it stays in line |
| Edit text directly in the Doc | No, opens the Drawing window | Yes |
| Rotate or layer over images | Yes | No |
| Works well for accessibility and copying text | Less well | Better |
Can you add a text box in the Google Docs app?
The Google Docs app for iPhone, iPad, and Android can’t create drawings. You can view text boxes you made on a computer, and insert a table from the + menu as an alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I type directly in the text box in my Doc?
Drawings are treated like images. Double-click the text box to open the Drawing window and edit the text there.
Can I put a text box on top of an image?
Yes. In the Drawing window, insert the image first with the Image button, then add a text box on top. Or set the drawing to In front of text and drag it over an image in your Doc.
Does the text inside a drawing get checked for spelling?
No. Spell check and word count don’t include text in drawings, so proofread it carefully.
Can I copy a text box from Word into Google Docs?
Text boxes from Word files may convert into drawings or plain text when you open the file in Google Docs. Check them after converting.
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.