Word makes a professional certificate easy with ready-made templates. You can also design one from scratch with landscape orientation, a page border and a few text boxes. Both methods work in current Word for Windows and Mac.
Quick Answer
Go to File, New, search for certificate, pick a template and click Create. Replace the placeholder text with the recipient, reason and date, then print on heavy paper.
How to Make a Certificate in Word
- Open Word and select File, New.
- Type certificate in the search box and press Enter.
- Pick a template such as Certificate of Achievement and click Create.
- Click each placeholder and type the recipient name, award, date and signer.
- Change fonts and colors on the Home and Design tabs if you want your own style.
- Print on card stock, or save as PDF to email it.
Template vs From Scratch
| Approach | Steps |
|---|---|
| Template | File, New, search certificate, Create |
| From scratch | Layout, Orientation, Landscape |
| Border | Design, Page Borders, Art or Box |
| Text | Insert text boxes or centered paragraphs |
| Signature line | Insert, Signature Line, or a drawn line |
Design a Certificate From Scratch
- Open a blank document and choose Layout > Orientation > Landscape.
- Set narrow margins with Layout > Margins > Narrow so the design has room.
- Add a border: Design > Page Borders, then pick a line style or an Art border, set the width and colour, and click OK.
- Type the title, such as “Certificate of Achievement,” and give it a large decorative font. Center it with Ctrl + E.
- Add lines for the presentation text (“This certificate is presented to”), the recipient’s name in the largest size, the reason, and the date.
- Insert your logo with Insert > Pictures and set Wrap Text to In Front of Text so you can position it freely.
- For signatures, insert a two-column table without borders and type a line of underscores above each signer’s name and title.
Print Many Certificates With Mail Merge
If you’re awarding a whole class or team, list the names in Excel (one column called Name, plus any others such as Award or Date) and let Word fill them in:
- Open your finished certificate and choose Mailings > Start Mail Merge > Letters.
- Click Select Recipients > Use an Existing List and open your Excel file.
- Select the placeholder name on the certificate, click Insert Merge Field, and choose Name. Repeat for other fields.
- Click Preview Results and use the arrows to check a few certificates.
- Click Finish & Merge, then Edit Individual Documents to review them all, or Print Documents to print straight away.
Format the merge field the same way as the name text, and the font, size and colour carry through to every certificate.
Printing Tips
- Print one test copy on plain paper to check alignment before using card stock.
- Check your printer’s maximum paper weight, and use the manual or rear feed tray for heavy card if it has one.
- Most home printers can’t print to the very edge. Keep important text and borders inside the margins so nothing is cut off.
- For a professional finish, save as PDF with File > Save As > PDF and take it to a print shop.
Planning to reuse the design every year? Save it as a template; see how to save a Word document as a template.
Troubleshooting
- Templates not loading: you need an internet connection to search online templates.
- Border cut off when printing: raise the margins or choose Measure from Text in Page Borders, Options.
- Making many certificates: use Mailings, Start Mail Merge with a list of names.
- Want people to type their own names in? See how to add fillable fields in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper should I use?
Letter-size card stock around 65 to 110 lb works in most home printers.
Can I add a logo?
Yes. Use Insert, Pictures and set wrapping to In Front of Text.
Can I make certificates in Word for the web?
Yes, with templates, though page borders are more limited.
How do I add an index for a long awards booklet?
See how to create an index in Word.
Summary
- File, New, search certificate.
- Pick a template.
- Replace the placeholder text.
- Adjust fonts and colors.
- Print on card stock or save as PDF.
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.