To remove or shrink margins in Microsoft Word, go to Layout > Margins. Pick Narrow for the smallest built-in preset, or choose Custom Margins and type 0 in the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right boxes. Most printers can’t print all the way to the edge of the paper, so Word may warn you and offer to Fix the margins by setting them to your printer’s minimum.
If the gap only looks like it’s missing (or too big) on screen, you may just be hiding or showing the white space between pages. That’s a display setting, not a margin, and it’s covered below.
Quick Answer
- Open your document and select the Layout tab.
- Select Margins, then choose Narrow, or select Custom Margins.
- In the Page Setup box, set Top, Bottom, Left, and Right to 0 (or the smallest value you want).
- Choose what the change applies to, then select OK.
- If Word warns that margins are outside the printable area, select Fix to use your printer’s minimum, or keep zero margins for on-screen or PDF use.
In This Guide
- Before You Start
- Method 1: Use the Narrow Preset
- Method 2: Set Custom Margins to Zero
- Printer Minimum Margins and the Fix Option
- Borderless Printing Notes
- One Page or Section vs. the Whole Document
- Hide the White Space Between Pages (Display Only)
- Which Option Should You Use?
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Start
A margin is the blank space between your text and the edges of the page. In Word, each page gets a one-inch margin on every side by default. “Removing” margins usually means making that space as small as possible so more content fits on the page.
This guide covers:
- Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016 on Windows, as of September 2026.
- Word for Mac and Word for the web, which also have a Layout > Margins menu, though labels and dialog layouts can vary by version.
Keep two limits in mind before you start:
- Printers have a non-printable edge. Even with margins set to 0, most printers leave a thin strip of paper blank, and text in that strip can get cut off.
- Sections matter. If your document has more than one section, a margin change may apply only to the section your cursor is in unless you choose otherwise.
If you only want to adjust margins rather than remove them, see our guide on how to set margins in Microsoft Word.
Method 1: Use the Narrow Preset
The Narrow preset is the fastest way to reclaim space without dealing with printer warnings, because it keeps a small margin that most printers can handle.
- Open your document in Word.
- Select the Layout tab on the ribbon (the toolbar across the top of the window).
- Select Margins. A menu of presets appears, such as Normal, Narrow, Moderate, Wide, and Mirrored. Each preset shows its measurements in the menu.
- Select Narrow. It typically sets about half an inch on each side; check the value shown in your menu. Expected result: The text area widens immediately and more text fits on each page.
If Narrow still leaves too much space, use Method 2 to set smaller custom values.
Method 2: Set Custom Margins to Zero
Custom margins let you set any value, including zero, for each side of the page.
- Select the Layout tab, then select Margins > Custom Margins. Expected result: The Page Setup dialog box opens on the Margins tab.
- In the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right boxes, type 0 (or a small value such as 0.25 if you plan to print).
- Leave Gutter at 0 unless you’re binding pages. The gutter is extra space added on the binding side.
- Use the Apply to list at the bottom of the dialog to choose whether the change covers the whole document or only part of it. See One Page or Section vs. the Whole Document for details.
- Check the Preview area to confirm the layout looks right.
- Select OK. Expected result: Your text now runs close to the edges of the page. If your printer can’t print that close, Word may show a warning (next section).
Want these margins for every new document? In the same Page Setup dialog, select Set As Default before selecting OK. This changes the Normal template, which is the starting point for new blank documents, so only do it if you truly want zero or narrow margins everywhere. On a Mac, Microsoft describes a similar option: Format > Document > Margins tab > Default; menu names can vary by version.
Microsoft’s own steps for this are in Create custom margins and Page margin basics.
Printer Minimum Margins and the Fix Option
Every printer has a printable area, the part of the sheet its print head can actually reach. The leftover strip around it is called the non-printable edge or printer minimum margin. Its size depends on your printer model and driver, so Word checks it against your margins.
When your margins are smaller than that minimum, Word may warn you that margins are set outside the printable area of the page. Microsoft documents this message for older versions of Word and notes that it can still appear in current versions with different wording. If you continue printing anyway, some text may be cut off and not appear on the page.
Warning: Before printing a document with zero margins, decide whether a thin blank border is acceptable. If it isn’t, check your printer’s borderless options first (next section).
To set the smallest margins your printer supports:
- Make sure your actual printer is selected under File > Print, because the minimum depends on the selected printer.
- Select Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.
- Type 0 in each margin box, then select OK.
- If a warning appears with a Fix button, select Fix. Expected result: Word raises each margin to the minimum the printer allows. These are the smallest margins you can print without clipping.
If no warning appears, your printer may support very small margins, or Word may show the message only when you print. Microsoft explains the Fix behavior in its article on margins outside the printable area.
Keep zero margins without fixing them only when you won’t print on paper, for example when you save as PDF or share the file digitally.
Borderless Printing Notes
Borderless printing means ink reaches every edge of the paper with no white border. This is a printer feature, not a Word feature, so zero margins in Word alone won’t produce it.
- Many photo and inkjet printers support borderless printing only on certain paper sizes and types. Office laser printers often don’t support it at all.
- When supported, the setting usually lives in the printer’s own options. In Word, go to File > Print > Printer Properties, then look for an option named something like Borderless. The exact name varies by printer maker.
- Some drivers offer borderless only after you pick a matching borderless paper size.
- If your printer doesn’t support it, a practical workaround is to print on larger paper and trim it, or send a PDF to a print shop.
Your printer maker’s support site is the best source for which paper sizes support borderless printing on your model.
One Page or Section vs. the Whole Document
Word stores margins per section. A section is a part of the document separated by a section break, and each section can have its own margins, orientation, and headers. A new document has one section, so a change applies to everything.
If your document already has several sections, Microsoft notes that a new margin setting applies only to the current section unless you change the scope. In the Page Setup dialog, the Apply to list offers choices such as Whole document, This section, or This point forward. The exact options depend on where your cursor is and whether text is selected.
Remove margins on the whole document
- Select Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.
- Enter your margin values.
- Set Apply to to Whole document, then select OK.
Remove margins on just one page
- Click at the very start of the page you want to change.
- Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page to start a new section there.
- Click at the start of the following page and insert another Next Page break so the change stops after this page.
- Click anywhere on the target page, open Custom Margins, enter your values, and set Apply to to This section. Expected result: Only that page has the new margins.
Tip: selecting text first and then applying margins to “Selected text” also works, and Word adds the section breaks for you. For a fuller walkthrough, see how to have different margins on different pages in Word.
Hide the White Space Between Pages (Display Only)
Sometimes people want to “remove margins” only while editing, so pages flow together on screen. Word can hide the top and bottom white space in Print Layout view without changing your real margins.
- Point to the top or bottom edge of a page until the pointer becomes a double-pointed arrow.
- Double-click. Expected result: The gap between pages collapses. Double-click again to bring it back.
You can also control this with File > Options > Display > Show white space between pages in Print Layout view. According to Microsoft Support, this is a display option only. It doesn’t change your margins or how the document prints.
Which Option Should You Use?
| Your goal | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fit more text on printed pages | Narrow preset or Fix to printer minimum | Small margins that print without clipping |
| Edge-to-edge design for a PDF or screen | Custom margins set to 0 | No printer limits apply to digital files |
| Edge-to-edge print, such as a flyer | Zero margins plus printer borderless setting | Only works if the printer supports borderless |
| Change a single page | Section breaks plus Apply to: This section | Keeps other pages unchanged |
| Less scrolling while editing | Hide white space | Display only; printing unaffected |
If a picture is what you’re trying to stretch to the edges, also see how to fit a picture to the page in Word.
Troubleshooting
Text is cut off when printed
Your margins are smaller than the printer’s printable area. Open Custom Margins, enter 0, and select Fix if prompted, or increase each margin slightly and print a test page.
The margin change only affected part of the document
Your document has multiple sections. Reopen Custom Margins and set Apply to to Whole document.
There’s still space at the top or bottom with margins at 0
Headers and footers have their own distance from the edge. Double-click the header area and check the header and footer position settings, or remove empty headers. Paragraph spacing before the first line can also add space.
New documents keep reverting to one-inch margins
The change wasn’t saved to the Normal template. Set your margins again, select Set As Default, and confirm if Word asks whether to change the default.
The top margin disappeared on screen
White space is hidden. Double-click the line between pages or turn on Show white space between pages in Print Layout view.
Borderless option is missing
Your printer or selected paper size may not support it. Try a different paper size in Printer Properties or check your printer maker’s documentation.
Related: Set 1-inch margins in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set Word margins to exactly zero?
Yes. Enter 0 in the Custom Margins boxes. Word may warn you if your printer can’t print that close to the edge, but the document itself can keep zero margins.
What does the Fix button do?
It raises each margin to the smallest value your selected printer can print, so nothing gets cut off.
Why do I still get a white border when printing?
Most printers can’t print to the edge. You need a printer that supports borderless printing and the matching setting in its driver.
Will zero margins carry over when I save as PDF?
Generally yes, because a PDF isn’t limited by a printer’s hardware. The limit returns if someone prints the PDF on a regular printer.
How do I remove margins on only one page?
Put that page in its own section with Next Page section breaks, then apply the margins to This section.
Does hiding white space change my margins?
No. It only affects how pages look in Print Layout view. Printing is unchanged.
Can I remove margins in Word for the web?
Word for the web has a Layout > Margins menu with a custom option, though available choices can be more limited than the desktop app. For section-level control, use the desktop app.
Summary
- Go to Layout > Margins and pick Narrow for quick, printable small margins.
- For zero margins, use Custom Margins and enter 0 on every side.
- Select Fix when warned to use your printer’s minimum margins.
- Use your printer’s borderless setting for true edge-to-edge prints.
- Use section breaks and Apply to to change one page instead of the whole document.
- Double-click between pages to hide white space on screen without changing margins.
Next step: open your document, set Custom Margins to 0, select Fix if prompted, and print a single test page before printing the full document.
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.