To merge shapes in Microsoft Word, insert and overlap two or more shapes, select them all (hold Shift and click each one), then go to the Shape Format tab and click Merge Shapes > Union, Combine, Fragment, Intersect, or Subtract. Word turns them into a single custom shape. If you don’t see Merge Shapes on the Shape Format tab in your version of Word, add the commands to the ribbon from File > Options > Customize Ribbon, or merge the shapes in PowerPoint and paste the result into Word.
Step 1: Insert and overlap your shapes
- Click Insert > Shapes and choose a shape. Click and drag in your document to draw it.
- Add another shape the same way.
- Drag the shapes so they overlap where you want them joined or cut.
Shapes placed on a drawing canvas (Insert > Shapes > New Drawing Canvas) are easier to arrange together.
Step 2: Select the shapes and merge them
- Click the first shape, hold Shift, and click the others. The order matters for Subtract and Intersect: the first shape you select keeps its formatting and is the one others are cut from.
- Click the Shape Format tab.
- Click Merge Shapes and choose an option.
What each merge option does
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Union | Joins the shapes into one outline |
| Combine | Joins the shapes but removes the overlapping area |
| Fragment | Splits the shapes into separate pieces wherever they overlap |
| Intersect | Keeps only the area where the shapes overlap |
| Subtract | Cuts the other shapes out of the first shape you selected |
If Merge Shapes isn’t on the ribbon
- Click File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
- In the right list, select the Shape Format (or Drawing Tools Format) tab, and click New Group.
- In Choose commands from, pick All Commands or Commands Not in the Ribbon.
- Find Shape Union, Shape Combine, Shape Fragment, Shape Intersect, and Shape Subtract (or a single Merge Shapes command), and click Add for each.
- Click OK. The commands now appear in your new group.
If your version of Word doesn’t have these commands at all, draw and merge the shapes in PowerPoint, copy the result, and paste it into Word.
Merge shapes vs. group shapes
Grouping (Shape Format > Group > Group) keeps shapes separate but lets you move and resize them together, and you can ungroup them later. Merging creates one new shape that can’t be split back into the originals, except with Ctrl + Z.
For a simple example, see how to make a heart in Word.
Troubleshooting
- Merge Shapes is grayed out. Select at least two shapes. Pictures, text boxes with text wrapping, and SmartArt can’t be merged.
- Can’t select both shapes. Set the shapes’ wrapping to In Front of Text (Layout Options button), or use the Selection Pane (Shape Format > Selection Pane) and Ctrl-click the shapes there.
- The result looks wrong. Undo with Ctrl + Z, change the selection order, and try again.
Related: Add icons in Word.
Related: Curve or arch text in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Can I merge a shape with a picture?
In PowerPoint, yes, with Intersect or Subtract to crop a picture into a shape. In Word, it’s easier to use Picture Format > Crop > Crop to Shape.
Does merging keep the shape’s color?
The merged shape uses the formatting of the first shape you selected.
Can I merge shapes in Word for the web?
No. Use the desktop version of Word or PowerPoint.
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.