Double Space Between Paragraphs in Word: Step-by-Step

To add a clear gap between paragraphs in Microsoft Word, select the paragraphs, open the Layout tab, and increase the After spacing value in the Paragraph group. If you mean double-spaced lines throughout each paragraph, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0 instead. These settings control different things, so choose the one that matches the layout you want.

The steps below are for Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. You can apply spacing to a selection, the whole document, or a style so that new paragraphs use it automatically. Save your document first if you are changing a long or carefully formatted file.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or Word for Mac if you are following the Mac notes.
A document with paragraphs you want to adjust. You do not need to install anything or use a special template.
Optional: a target spacing amount, such as 12 pt after each paragraph, if you need to match a formatting guide.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and identify the paragraphs. Decide whether you want extra space between selected paragraphs or throughout the document. Paragraph spacing is usually the right choice for adding a visible gap after each paragraph without changing the spacing between lines inside it. If a school, workplace, or publisher has specified a precise value, use that value rather than guessing.
Select the text to format. To change a few paragraphs, drag across their text, including the final paragraph mark if practical. Word applies paragraph formatting to the paragraphs containing the selection, even if you have not highlighted every character. To apply the change to the entire document, press Ctrl+A on Windows. If the document has multiple sections with different layouts, check the result in each section after applying the setting.
Open the Layout controls. On the ribbon, select Layout. Find the Paragraph group, which contains Before and After spacing fields. The After field controls the space added below each selected paragraph; Before controls space above it. If the ribbon is narrow, the group may be condensed, so maximize the Word window or expand the group to see the fields.
Set spacing after the paragraphs. Click the After field and enter a value such as 12 pt, then press Enter. This adds 12 points of space after each selected paragraph. It is a common starting point for a noticeable gap, but it is not a universal definition of double spacing. Try a smaller or larger value if the page looks too loose or too crowded, and follow any required formatting specification.
Check the Before value as well. If there is already space before the paragraphs, a new After value may make the gaps look larger than expected. For an even, predictable layout, many documents use 0 pt Before and a chosen After value. Do not automatically set both fields to a large amount: that can create an oversized gap where one paragraph ends and the next begins, because both settings contribute to the space at the boundary.
Review the result in the document. Click in the text or press the right arrow to remove the selection and inspect several paragraph breaks. Look at paragraphs with one line and paragraphs with several lines. The added gap should appear after each paragraph, not between every line. If the change is hard to judge, turn on formatting marks from Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide ¶; paragraph marks reveal where separate paragraphs begin and end.
Use the Paragraph dialog for exact control. For more options, select the text, go to Home, and click the small dialog box launcher in the lower-right corner of the Paragraph group. In the Indents and Spacing tab, find the Spacing section and enter values in Before and After. Choose OK to apply them. This dialog is useful when you need to set both paragraph spacing and line spacing in one place.
Set true double line spacing only if that is what you need. Select the relevant text, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. This doubles the vertical spacing between lines within paragraphs; it is not the same as adding a separate paragraph gap. You can combine 2.0 line spacing with After spacing, but use both only when the instructions call for both or the result is intentionally very open.
Save the formatting for new paragraphs, if needed. If you want the same spacing to be used consistently in future text, modify the style applied to the paragraphs rather than adjusting each new paragraph manually. On Windows, right-click the relevant style in the Home tab’s Styles gallery, choose Modify, then use Format > Paragraph to set the After value. Confirm whether the change should apply only to this document or to new documents based on the template before you save it.

On Word for Mac: The names and locations of some controls differ slightly by release, but you can select the text and use the Layout tab’s paragraph spacing controls, or open the Format > Paragraph dialog and set spacing after the paragraph. To change line spacing, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing and select 2.0. Keyboard shortcuts differ from Windows: Command+2 applies double line spacing on many current Mac versions of Word. It does not set paragraph After spacing.

Common Mistakes

Using double line spacing when you only want paragraph gaps. Choosing 2.0 makes every line farther apart, which can make a page much longer. For a gap only at paragraph breaks, adjust After spacing instead.
Pressing Enter twice to make a blank line. This inserts an empty paragraph, which may shift when you edit or reflow the text. It can also create inconsistent gaps if paragraph spacing is changed later. Use the After setting for a cleaner, more maintainable layout.
Changing only one paragraph by accident. If only the active paragraph was selected, the setting may not affect the rest. Select all the paragraphs you intend to format, or use Ctrl+A when the entire document should change.
Adding space both before and after without checking. Word can apply the After value to one paragraph and the Before value to the next, making the boundary look unusually large. Review both fields and use a consistent approach.
Assuming a particular point value means exactly double spacing. A value such as 12 pt is a fixed amount of paragraph space, while line spacing depends on the font and line height. Treat values as layout controls and follow a supplied style guide when one exists.

Tips

Use the formatting marks while diagnosing gaps. The Show/Hide ¶ button displays paragraph marks and other nonprinting characters. A visible empty paragraph between two paragraphs means an extra Enter was used; removing it can make the spacing consistent.
Compare the page at a useful zoom level. Zoom out enough to see a few paragraphs together, then zoom in to check the text. A spacing value that looks fine in a single line may feel excessive across a full page.
Apply spacing through styles in structured documents. Body text, headings, and captions often need different spacing. Changing the Normal style may affect more text than you intend, so modify the specific style used by the paragraphs you are formatting.
Use the ruler or paragraph dialog for alignment separately. Indentation and spacing are distinct settings. If paragraphs shift sideways while you are trying to add a vertical gap, reopen Paragraph settings and check the Indentation fields as well as Spacing.
Keep a copy when the document has complex formatting. A document with sections, tables, lists, and custom styles can respond differently from a plain page. Saving a copy makes it easy to compare the original and revised layout.

Troubleshooting

The gap does not change: First confirm that the text is selected and that you edited After, not a line-spacing option. Try clicking inside one affected paragraph and reopening the Paragraph dialog to see its current values. If the selected text contains paragraphs with different settings, select the complete range again and apply one consistent value.

The gap is much larger than expected: Check whether the next paragraph has a Before value, whether the previous paragraph has an After value, and whether an empty paragraph is sitting between them. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ to spot blank paragraphs. Also check whether you applied 2.0 line spacing as well as paragraph spacing; the combined effect can be substantially larger.

Only some paragraphs change: The unformatted paragraphs may use a different style, may not have been included in the selection, or may belong to another section. Select the paragraphs that still look different and check the style name and Paragraph dialog values. For consistency across a document, update the appropriate style rather than repeatedly formatting individual sections by hand.

The spacing returns when you press Enter: New paragraphs normally inherit formatting from the paragraph or style where you are typing. If the spacing does not carry forward, modify the style used for that text. In Word for Windows, right-click the style in the Home tab’s Styles gallery, choose Modify, and set spacing in Format > Paragraph. Check the style’s scope before confirming so you do not unintentionally change other documents.

The ribbon does not show the spacing fields: Make the Word window wider or look for the Paragraph group on the Layout tab. You can also use the Paragraph dialog launcher from Home. In Word for the web, ribbon features can differ from the desktop app; if you cannot find a particular dialog or style option, open the file in the Word desktop app to use the full controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paragraph spacing the same as double spacing?
No. Paragraph spacing adds room before or after a paragraph. Double line spacing increases the distance between the lines inside paragraphs. You can use either setting alone or combine them when the formatting requirement calls for both.

What value should I use for space between paragraphs?
There is no single value that suits every document. A value such as 12 pt After is a reasonable starting point for a visible gap, but the right amount depends on the font, page design, and any instructions you have been given. Use the specified value when formatting rules provide one.

How do I double-space the whole document in Word?
Press Ctrl+A on Windows to select the document, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. This double-spaces lines throughout the selection. To create a separate gap after each paragraph as well, set an After value in Layout or the Paragraph dialog.

Can I add space between paragraphs without adding blank lines?
Yes. Select the paragraphs and increase the After value in Layout or in the Paragraph dialog. This creates a formatting gap without inserting empty paragraphs, so the layout is easier to maintain as the text changes.

How do I remove extra space between paragraphs?
Select the affected paragraphs, open the Paragraph settings, and set Before and After to 0 pt if you want no added paragraph spacing. Also check for empty paragraphs and remove unwanted ones. Line spacing is a separate setting, so change it only if the lines themselves are too far apart.

Will the setting apply to text I type later?
Usually, a new paragraph inherits formatting from the paragraph you are typing in. To make the spacing dependable throughout a document or reusable template, modify the paragraph style used for the text and confirm the change applies to the intended document or template.

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