How you remove a border line in Word depends on what kind of line it is. For a line under a paragraph (often created by typing — and pressing Enter), click in the paragraph just above the line, then go to Home > Borders (in the Paragraph group) > No Border. For a border around the whole page, go to Design > Page Borders and choose None. For table lines, select the table and choose Table Design > Borders > No Border.
Below you’ll learn how to identify each type of line and remove it, plus how to stop Word from creating automatic lines.
Which kind of line do you have?
| What it looks like | Type | How to remove |
|---|---|---|
| A line across the page you can’t click or delete | Paragraph border (from AutoFormat) | Home > Borders > No Border |
| A frame around every page | Page border | Design > Page Borders > None |
| Grid lines in a table | Table borders | Table Design > Borders > No Border |
| A line at the top or bottom of every page | Header or footer border | Double-click the header, then Home > Borders > No Border |
| A line you can select and drag | Shape | Click it and press Delete |
How to remove a paragraph border line
- Click in the paragraph directly above the line.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button in the Paragraph group.
- Choose No Border.
If that doesn’t work, select a few paragraphs above and below the line and try again.
How to remove a page border
- Click the Design tab.
- Click Page Borders.
- Under Setting, choose None and click OK.
How to remove table borders
Click inside the table, open the Table Design tab, click Borders, and choose No Border. To still see cell outlines on screen without printing them, click Layout > View Gridlines.
How to stop Word from adding automatic lines
Typing three dashes, underscores, or equals signs and pressing Enter makes Word add a border line. To turn this off, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type and uncheck Border lines. Press Ctrl + Z right after Word adds one to undo it.
Related: Add borders in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I click and delete the line?
It’s a paragraph border, not an object. Remove it with Borders > No Border.
How do I remove the line in a header?
Double-click the header, click in the header text, and choose Home > Borders > No Border.
Does this work on a Mac?
Yes. The Borders button is on the Home tab, and Page Borders is on the Design tab.
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.