How to Double Space Everything in Word

To double-space a Word document, click in its main text, select the document with Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. This changes the line spacing of the selected paragraphs, not the font or page margins. Check headers, footers, text boxes, and other separate text areas individually if you need those double-spaced too.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word. These steps are for Word in Microsoft 365 on Windows; the Mac notes below explain the main differences.
Editing access to the document. If it is read-only or protected, you may need to save an editable copy or ask for permission first.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and click in the main text. Click inside a paragraph in the document body, rather than in a header, footer, comment, or text box. This puts the cursor in the main text area so the select-all command applies to the document rather than a separate area. If you only want to double-space a section, drag across that section instead of selecting everything.
Select the document text. On Windows, press Ctrl+A. On Mac, press Command+A. If the cursor is inside a table, Word may first select text in the cell or table instead of the whole document. Click in ordinary body text and use the shortcut there; check the highlighted area before continuing. In a long document, scroll through a few pages to confirm that the selection covers the content you intend to change.
Open the line-spacing menu. Select the Home tab on the ribbon. In the Paragraph group, choose Line and Paragraph Spacing. The button usually shows horizontal lines with vertical arrows. If the ribbon is condensed, widen the Word window or open the Paragraph group options to find the control. Do not choose a command that only adds space before or after paragraphs; that is a different setting.
Choose 2.0. Click 2.0 in the menu. Word applies double line spacing to the selected paragraphs. The change should be visible immediately: lines within each paragraph sit farther apart, while the text, font, and page margins remain as they were. On Mac, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0 as well. The Mac shortcut Command+2 also applies double spacing to selected paragraphs.
Check the result on several pages. Look at a regular paragraph, a heading, a bulleted or numbered list, and any table that should be included. Selection formatting can preserve bold, italics, font size, and paragraph alignment while changing the line spacing. If one kind of content still looks single-spaced, select those paragraphs and apply 2.0 directly.
Inspect paragraph gaps separately. Double line spacing controls the distance between lines within a paragraph. It does not necessarily remove extra space before or after a paragraph. If there are unusually large gaps between paragraphs, select the relevant paragraphs, open Home > Paragraph dialog launcher, and review the Spacing Before and After values on the Indents and Spacing tab. Set those values as needed; do not confuse a paragraph gap with line spacing.
Handle text outside the main body if needed. Headers and footers, footnotes and endnotes, and text in shapes or text boxes can be separate from the main document selection. Double-click a header or footer to edit it, select its paragraphs, and choose 2.0 from the same line-spacing menu. For a footnote, endnote, or text box, click inside that area, select its text, and apply 2.0 there. Repeat only for areas that are supposed to be double-spaced.
Save the document. Press Ctrl+S on Windows or Command+S on Mac. If you must preserve the original, use File > Save As to create a separate copy before making changes. Reopen the saved file if practical and confirm that the spacing remains as intended.

You can also use a keyboard shortcut instead of the ribbon: with the target paragraphs selected, press Ctrl+2 on Windows. On Mac, press Command+2. These shortcuts set double line spacing; Ctrl+1 or Command+1 sets single spacing, and Ctrl+5 or Command+5 sets 1.5 spacing. Use the shortcut only after confirming the correct text is selected.

Common Mistakes

Adding paragraph spacing instead of double line spacing. The commands for adding space before or after a paragraph can make a page look more open, but they do not put the lines inside each paragraph at double spacing. Use the 2.0 line-spacing option.
Expecting Ctrl+A to include every separate text area. It selects the document’s main text, but headers, footers, text boxes, and notes may need separate attention. Check these areas if the instruction truly applies to all visible text.
Assuming double spacing means exactly twice as many pages. Page count depends on font, margins, paragraph gaps, headings, tables, and page breaks. Double spacing often adds pages, but the change is not a reliable fixed multiplier.
Changing the Normal style and expecting every paragraph to follow. A document can use headings, custom styles, or direct formatting that does not inherit from Normal. Selecting the existing paragraphs and applying 2.0 is usually the more dependable way to update the current document.
Applying the change to only the current paragraph. If no text is selected, Word typically changes the paragraph where the cursor is. Use select-all or select the full target range first, then verify the highlighted area.

Tips

Keep other formatting intact. Applying line spacing does not normally remove bold, italics, bullets, numbering, or paragraph alignment. Avoid selecting and reapplying a style unless you also want to change those attributes.
Use the Paragraph dialog for a precise check. Select a sample paragraph, open Home > Paragraph dialog launcher, and look at Line spacing on the Indents and Spacing tab. It should read Double. This is useful when the page looks crowded because of other paragraph settings.
Apply the setting consistently to lists and tables. Select list items or table-cell paragraphs that should be double-spaced and use the same 2.0 command. For a table, click in a cell and use the table selection controls if you need to select the whole table; make sure you have not changed only one cell by mistake.
Know when a style update is useful. If you are still drafting and want new paragraphs of a particular style to be double-spaced, modify that style rather than repeatedly formatting individual additions. Existing paragraphs with overrides may not change with the style, so review the document afterward.
Keep a clean copy when formatting requirements are strict. Save a duplicate before changing a complex document. That gives you a straightforward way to compare versions if double spacing affects page breaks, tables, or a carefully arranged layout.

Troubleshooting

Only one paragraph changed: The cursor was probably active in a paragraph without a selection. Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac, select the intended text, and apply 2.0 again. If the whole document is meant to change, click in the body first and use the select-all shortcut.

The document still looks crowded: Check whether the extra crowding comes from spacing Before or After, rather than the line-spacing setting. Select a problem paragraph and open the Paragraph dialog to inspect both the Line spacing and Spacing values. A paragraph set to Double can still have substantial extra space after it. Also check whether the font is unusually large or whether the page contains large headings.

Some headings, lists, or table text did not change: Select the affected paragraphs themselves and set them to 2.0. Their styles or direct paragraph formatting may differ from the main body. For tables, make sure all relevant cells are selected rather than just the cell containing the cursor. Review the result because long lines in narrow cells can wrap onto extra lines.

Headers, footers, or notes remain single-spaced: Edit each separate area, select its paragraphs, and apply double spacing there. Do not keep repeating Ctrl+A in the body and assume that it has reached every story in the document. If the document has many notes or text boxes, move through them one at a time and confirm the formatting.

The 2.0 option is unavailable or the file cannot be edited: Check whether the document is in Protected View, read-only, or restricted by editing permissions. If you have permission, enable editing or save an editable copy. In Word for the web, the Home tab also provides line-spacing controls, although ribbon placement can vary with the window width. For complex documents or separate text areas, open the file in the desktop app and inspect each area there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does double spacing mean 2.0 line spacing?
Yes. In Word, the 2.0 line-spacing option is the standard double-spacing setting. It changes the vertical distance between lines in a paragraph, not the distance between pages or the page margins.

Will double spacing change my font or page layout?
It does not change the font, font size, or margins by itself. It can move text onto later pages, change page breaks, and increase the document’s page count because each paragraph takes more vertical space.

Can I double-space just part of a Word document?
Yes. Select the paragraphs or text you want to change, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. The rest of the document keeps its existing spacing.

How do I double-space new paragraphs too?
Set the line spacing for the style you plan to use for new paragraphs. In desktop Word, right-click the style in the Styles gallery, choose Modify, and adjust the paragraph formatting. Check existing text afterward, since direct formatting can override a style.

Does Ctrl+2 work on a Mac?
No. In Word for Mac, use Command+2 for double line spacing. You can also select the paragraphs and use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0 on either platform.

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