A vertical line in a Word document can separate columns, highlight a quote, divide a letterhead, or add a design accent in the margin. Word doesn’t have a single “vertical line” button, but there are five good ways to add one, depending on whether the line should follow your text, run between columns, or sit anywhere on the page. This guide covers all of them in Word for Windows, Mac, and the web.
Quick Answer
For a line that follows a paragraph, click in the paragraph and go to Home > Borders (arrow) > Left Border or Right Border. For a line you can place anywhere, go to Insert > Shapes > Line, then hold Shift while dragging down to draw a perfectly vertical line.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Goal | Method |
|---|---|
| Line beside a paragraph or quote that moves with text | Paragraph border |
| Line anywhere, any length, color, or angle | Shape line |
| Line between newspaper-style columns | Columns with “Line between” |
| Line dividing two blocks side by side (like a resume) | Table with one inner border |
| Thin line at a precise horizontal position in each line of text | Bar tab stop |
Method 1: Paragraph Border
- Click in the paragraph (or select several paragraphs).
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button in the Paragraph group.
- Choose Left Border or Right Border.
- To change color, thickness, or spacing, choose Borders and Shading from the same menu, pick a style, color, and width, click the left or right side in the Preview, and click Options to set the distance from text.
The line grows as you add text, which makes it ideal for pull quotes, notes, and callouts.
Method 2: Draw a Line Shape
- Go to Insert > Shapes and choose the Line under Lines.
- Click where the line should start, hold Shift, and drag straight down. Shift keeps it perfectly vertical.
- With the line selected, use the Shape Format tab to change Shape Outline color, Weight (thickness), and Dashes.
- Use Wrap Text on the Shape Format tab to choose In Front of Text or Behind Text, and drag the line into place.
To make the line exactly as tall as you want, set Height in the Size group on the Shape Format tab. Hold Alt while dragging to move it without snapping to the grid.
Method 3: Line Between Columns
- Select the text (or click anywhere if the whole document should use columns).
- Go to Layout > Columns > More Columns.
- Choose the number of columns and check Line between.
- Click OK.
The line appears only when there’s text in the next column. See our full guide to putting a line between columns in Word.
Method 4: Table With One Border
- Go to Insert > Table and create a 2×1 table (two columns, one row).
- Type or paste content into each cell.
- Select the table, then on the Table Design tab, click Borders > No Border.
- With the table still selected, click Borders > Inside Vertical Border.
This gives you a clean divider between two blocks, a common layout for resumes and letterheads.
Method 5: Bar Tab Stop
- Select the paragraphs.
- Click the tab selector at the left end of the ruler (turn on the ruler with View > Ruler) until it shows the Bar Tab icon (a vertical bar).
- Click on the ruler where you want the line. A vertical line appears through those paragraphs at that position.
Word for Mac and the Web
- Mac: The same Borders, Shapes, Columns, and Table options are on the Home, Insert, and Layout tabs.
- Web: Word for the web supports paragraph borders (Home > Borders) and columns with lines on some plans, but drawing shapes is limited. Open the document in the desktop app for full control.
How to Remove a Vertical Line
- Shape: Click the line and press Delete.
- Paragraph border: Click in the paragraph and choose Home > Borders > No Border.
- Column line: Uncheck Line between in Layout > Columns > More Columns.
- Mystery line you can’t select: It’s often a page border (Design > Page Borders), a header or footer element (double-click the header), or a bar tab (drag it off the ruler).
Summary
- Paragraph line: Home > Borders > Left/Right Border.
- Free-floating line: Insert > Shapes > Line, hold Shift.
- Between columns: Layout > Columns > More Columns > Line between.
- Side-by-side blocks: a two-column table with only the inside vertical border.
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.