To tile a picture across a whole page in Word, go to Design > Page Color > Fill Effects, open the Texture tab, click Other Texture, and choose your picture. Word repeats it like wallpaper across every page. To tile a picture inside a shape or text box instead, right-click the shape, choose Format Shape > Fill > Picture or texture fill, insert the picture, and check Tile picture as texture.
Method 1: Tile a picture as the page background
- Open your document and click the Design tab.
- Click Page Color > Fill Effects.
- Open the Texture tab and click Other Texture.
- Choose From a file, select your picture, and click Insert.
- Click OK. The picture repeats across the page.
Using the Picture tab instead stretches one copy to fill the page rather than tiling it.
Make the tiled background print
Word doesn’t print page colors by default. Go to File > Options > Display and check Print background colors and images. Background textures also don’t show in Draft view, so use Print Layout.
Method 2: Tile a picture inside a shape or text box
- Insert a shape with Insert > Shapes, or select a text box.
- Right-click it and choose Format Shape.
- Under Fill, choose Picture or texture fill, then click Insert and pick your picture.
- Check Tile picture as texture.
- Adjust Scale X and Scale Y to make the tiles smaller or larger, and use Offset to shift them.
Drag the shape to cover the whole page and use Wrap Text > Behind Text if you want text on top.
Method 3: Repeat a picture in a table
For a grid of the same image, like labels or stickers, insert a table, paste the picture into the first cell, and copy it into the other cells. Remove the table borders with Table Design > Borders > No Border.
Tips for good-looking tiles
- Use a small, seamless pattern image so the edges line up.
- Lighten busy images with Picture Format > Color or Transparency before using them, so text stays readable.
- Large, high-resolution images make the file much bigger. Resize them first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tile a picture in Word for the web?
Word for the web has limited background options. Use the desktop app for tiled backgrounds.
How do I remove a tiled background?
Go to Design > Page Color > No Color.
Can I tile a picture on just one page?
Page color applies to the whole document. For one page, use a shape filled with a tiled picture placed behind the text.
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.