How to put a box in google docs

Text boxes have various uses within a document, such as making a group of text stand out on a page to grab the attention of your reader or to give your document a professional aesthetic. Google Docs provides a couple of simple ways to get that text box in your document.

Insert a text box using the Drawing tool

To insert a text box in Google Docs using the drawing tool, click the “Insert” option in the menu bar, hover your cursor over the “Drawing” option, and then select “New” from the sub-menu that appears.

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The Drawing window will appear. Click the “Text Box” option, which is a square with a “T” in it, in the menu bar.

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Your cursor will then turn into a crosshair. Click and drag your cursor to draw the text box and then input the text you wish to enter.

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The text box has no border or fill color by default. To give the text box a border, click the “Border Color” option, which is the pen icon, and then select a color from the drop-down menu.

Give the text box a border color.

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You can do the same thing for the fill color. The “Fill Color” icon is the leaning paint bucket.

Give the text box a fill color.

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Click the “Save and Close” button to save the text box and close the Drawing window.

Click “Save and Close”.

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The text box is now inserted in your document.

Related: How to use Google Docs or Google Sheets offline

Other ways to create a text box

While there is an official method for inserting a text box in Google Docs as detailed above, there are a few unconventional ways of getting a text box in your document.

One way is very similar to the official method, and that’s by using the “Shape” tool. To access the shape tool, go to Insert > Drawing > New, and then click the “Shape” option in the menu bar. Choose the rectangle, click and drag your cursor to draw the shape, and then type the text you wish to enter. Be sure to click “Save and Close” once you’re finished.

Insert a text box using the shape tool.

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Alternatively, you can create a text box by inserting a single-cell table. To do so, click “Insert” in the menu bar, hover your cursor over the “Table” option, and then click the first cell in the sub-menu. This should be a 1×1 cell.

Insert a single cell table.

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Next, type the text you wish to enter within the cell.

A text box made with a single cell table.

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That’s all there is to it. Get creative and you’ll find ways to create a text box perfect for your document.

Article SummaryX

1. Click the Insert tab.
2. Hover over Table and select the top-left square to create a table with a single cell.
3. Add text to the table and resize the table as desired.
4. Adjust the style of the table and its border with the four buttons at the far right of the menu (you may have to expand your menu by clicking the button with the three dots icon).

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While some prefer Microsoft Word, Google Docs is a free alternative loaded with features, including the ability to collaborate in real-time, and has robust formatting options.

For example, using a text box or shape in Google Docs can allow you to have certain information stand out amongst other document contents.

Here's how to insert a text box or custom shapes in Google Docs. 

Insert a text box

1. Click Insert.

2. Click Drawing and then New.

3. Click on the Text box icon.

4. Click and drag the mouse to shape the box to the size that you want, then release the mouse.

5. Input what you want to appear in the text box and then hit Save and close. You can then move the text box and place it wherever you like by clicking and dragging it into position.

Quick tip: You can change the font size and formatting of the text by highlighting it, clicking the three horizontal dots below the Save and close button, and selecting your desired option.

Add shapes 

1. Click Insert.

2. Click Drawing.

3. Click New.

4. Click on the Shapes icon, which is to the immediate left of the Text box button.

5. Click on Shapes in the dropdown that appears. From here, you can select predetermined shapes out of the options available and customize it to your liking.

6. When you are done, click Save and close. You can then move the shape around the document by clicking and dragging and place it wherever you want.

Customize your text box or shape 

1. Click on your shape and select Edit in the contextual menu that appears.

2. Click again on your shape. This will bring up a series of points that you can click and drag with your mouse to change different aspects of the shape, the box size, or the text within it.

For example, the blue points allow you to resize and shape your shape whereas the orange ones allow for fine customization, such as making a smiley face frown or removing corners of a shape, and are fewer in number.

Circular blue points that appear above your shape or text box allow you to rotate it. Click and hold the point and then rotate it left or right. Once it is rotated as desired, release the mouse. Don't worry if you don't get it right the first time, you can always edit the rotation further if needed.