The ruler appears at the top and left side of your document to help you set margins, indents, and tab stops
Microsoft Word includes a ruler that measures your page in inches or centimeters. It sits along the top edge and down the left side of your document, showing you exactly where your text will land on the page. The ruler is turned off by default in most Word versions, so you need to turn it on yourself.
The process takes one click. Open any document in Word, go to the View tab at the top of the screen, and check the box next to Ruler. The ruler will appear immediately. If you want to hide it again later, uncheck that same box.
Key Takeaways
- The ruler is hidden by default in Word and must be turned on from the View tab.
- Once visible, the ruler shows you the exact position of margins, indents, and tab stops on your page.
- The ruler works the same way in Word for Windows, Word for Mac, and Word Online, though the View tab location differs slightly in the web version.
- You can drag the indent markers on the ruler to adjust paragraph indentation without opening a dialog box.
Turning on the ruler in Word for Windows
Open your Word document. At the top of the screen, click the View tab. In the ribbon that appears, look for a checkbox labeled Ruler in the Show group. Click the checkbox to enable it.
The ruler will now appear along the top of your document and down the left side. The top ruler measures horizontal distance in inches (or your chosen unit), and the left ruler measures vertical distance from the top of the page. Both rulers show the current margins as shaded areas at the edges.
Turning on the ruler in Word for Mac
Click the View tab in the ribbon at the top. In the Show group, click the Ruler checkbox. The ruler will appear immediately.
On a Mac, the ruler behaves identically to the Windows version. You can drag the indent markers to adjust how far your paragraphs sit from the left margin, and you can set custom tab stops by clicking on the ruler where you want them.
Turning on the ruler in Word Online
Word Online (the web version you access through Microsoft 365 in your browser) has a slightly different layout. Click the View tab, then select Ruler from the menu that appears. The ruler will display on your screen.
The Word Online ruler works the same way as the desktop versions, though some advanced ruler features (like dragging indent markers) may be limited depending on your browser and Word Online version.
What the ruler shows you
The horizontal ruler at the top displays the width of your page and shows where your left and right margins sit. The shaded areas on both ends represent the margins — the space where text cannot go. The white area in the middle is where your text will appear.
The left ruler shows the vertical distance from the top of the page. It also displays indent markers as small triangles and rectangles. The top triangle controls the first-line indent (how far the first line of a paragraph sits from the left margin). The bottom triangle controls the hanging indent (how far all lines after the first sit from the left margin). The rectangle below both triangles controls the left indent for the entire paragraph.
Using the ruler to adjust indents and margins
Once the ruler is visible, you can drag the indent markers to change how your paragraphs line up. Click and drag the top triangle on the left ruler to move the first-line indent. Drag the bottom triangle to move the hanging indent. Drag the rectangle to move the entire paragraph's left indent.
To change the page margins themselves, position your mouse on the border between the shaded and white areas on either ruler. Your cursor will change to a resize arrow. Click and drag to move the margin. This changes the margin for the entire page or section, not just the current paragraph.
If you want more precise control over indents and margins, you can still use the dialog box. Right-click on the ruler and select Paragraph, or go to the Layout tab and click Margins or Indents and Spacing.
Troubleshooting: ruler is not showing
If you clicked the Ruler checkbox but the ruler still does not appear, check whether you are in an editing view. Word has different views — Print Layout, Web Layout, Outline, and Draft. The ruler only shows in Print Layout and Web Layout views. Click View and select Print Layout to switch.
If you are already in Print Layout and the ruler still does not show, try closing and reopening the document. Occasionally Word needs to refresh the display. If the problem persists, restart Word entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the ruler from inches to centimeters?
Yes. Go to File > Options (or Word > Preferences on Mac), then select Advanced. Scroll down to the Display section and change the measurement unit in the "Show measurements in units of" dropdown. The ruler will update immediately.
Does the ruler print with my document?
No. The ruler is only a guide on your screen. It will not appear in the printed version or in a PDF you export from Word. Only the actual text and formatting print.
What is the difference between the indent markers and the margin?
Margins apply to the entire page and control the space between the edge of the paper and where any text can start. Indents apply to individual paragraphs and control how far that paragraph sits from the margin. You can have a one-inch margin and still indent a paragraph an additional half-inch from that margin.
Can I set tab stops using the ruler?
Yes. Click on the horizontal ruler at the position where you want a tab stop to appear. A small marker will appear on the ruler. When you press Tab in your document, the cursor will jump to that position. Right-click the tab stop marker to change its type (left, center, right, or decimal).