The fastest way to make an inverted pyramid in Word is with SmartArt. Click Insert > SmartArt, choose Pyramid on the left, select Inverted Pyramid, and click OK. Then type your text into each level. You can also draw one with a triangle shape flipped upside down, or shape a paragraph of text into an upside-down triangle. All three methods are below.
Method 1: Use the SmartArt Inverted Pyramid (easiest)
- Click where you want the diagram in your document.
- Go to the Insert tab and click SmartArt.
- In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic box, click Pyramid in the left column.
- Select Inverted Pyramid and click OK.
- Click [Text] in each level and type your labels, or use the text pane that opens to the left of the graphic.
Customize the SmartArt pyramid
- Add a level: Click the bottom level, then go to SmartArt Design > Add Shape > Add Shape After. Or press Enter at the end of the last line in the text pane.
- Remove a level: Click the edge of that level and press Delete.
- Change colors: On the SmartArt Design tab, click Change Colors, or pick a look from the SmartArt Styles gallery.
- Resize it: Drag the corner handles of the frame around the graphic.
- Flip it right side up: On the SmartArt Design tab, choose Basic Pyramid in the Layouts gallery.
Word’s other pyramid layouts include Basic Pyramid, Pyramid List (a pyramid with labels in boxes beside it), and Segmented Pyramid.
Method 2: Draw an inverted pyramid with shapes
Use this method when you want full control over each layer, like different heights or colors.
- Go to Insert > Shapes and choose Isosceles Triangle from the Basic Shapes group.
- Hold Shift and drag in your document to draw the triangle.
- With the triangle selected, go to Shape Format > Rotate > Flip Vertical. The point now faces down.
- To split it into layers, go to Insert > Shapes > Line, hold Shift, and draw straight lines across the triangle.
- Add labels with Insert > Text Box. In Shape Format, set the text box to No Fill and No Outline, then drag it onto the right layer.
- Select all the pieces while holding Shift, then choose Shape Format > Group > Group so they move together.
For layers with separate colors, draw one Trapezoid per layer instead of one triangle. Flip each trapezoid vertically and stack them, making each one a little narrower than the one above it.
Method 3: Shape text into an inverted pyramid
Some assignments and poems call for text shaped like an upside-down triangle, with long lines at the top and shorter lines toward the bottom.
- Type your text.
- Select it and press Ctrl + E (Cmd + E on a Mac) to center it.
- Press Shift + Enter to break each line where you want it. Make each line a few words shorter than the one above.
- For more precise control, press Enter instead so each line is its own paragraph. Then click each lower line, go to Layout, and increase Indent Left and Indent Right by the same amount.
Shift + Enter starts a new line without starting a new paragraph, so all the lines stay centered together.
What is the inverted pyramid used for?
- News writing: The inverted pyramid is a way to organize an article with the most important facts first, followed by supporting details, then background.
- Presentations and reports: It shows how something narrows down, like a sales funnel, from broad to specific.
- Priorities: It can show the biggest goal or group at the top and smaller pieces below.
If you’re writing a news-style article in Word, you don’t need a diagram at all. Just lead with the who, what, when, where, and why in the first paragraph, then add details in order of importance.
Frequently asked questions
Where is SmartArt in Word?
On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group. In Word for the web, go to Insert > SmartArt.
Can I make an inverted pyramid in Word on a Mac?
Yes. The steps are the same. Go to Insert > SmartArt > Pyramid > Inverted Pyramid.
How do I convert text to a SmartArt pyramid?
Type each level on its own line, select the lines, then insert an Inverted Pyramid SmartArt and paste the text into the text pane. Each line becomes a level.
Can I copy the pyramid into PowerPoint?
Yes. Select the SmartArt, copy it, and paste it into a slide. It stays editable. PowerPoint has the same SmartArt layouts.
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.