How to Make Columns in Word

To make columns in Word, place your cursor where the layout should begin, then choose Layout > Columns and select a layout such as Two. To format only existing text, select it first; to change columns partway through a document, use section breaks. These steps are for Microsoft Word in Microsoft 365 on Windows, with Mac notes where the controls may differ.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word. You can start with blank pages or apply columns to text you have already written.
For a section-only layout, a clear idea of where the columns should start and end. Section breaks let you keep the rest of the document in its original layout.

Step-by-Step

Decide which text should be in columns. If the whole document should use columns, click in the document and leave the text unselected. If only a passage should change, drag to select that text before changing the layout. Selecting it first helps Word apply the setting to that content rather than changing the layout more broadly. You can also create a new section for the passage, as described below, when you need precise control over the surrounding pages.
Open the column controls. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select the Layout tab on the ribbon, then choose Columns in the Page Setup group. On a Mac, select Layout and then Columns; the precise ribbon arrangement can vary with the Word version and window size. If you do not see the control, maximize the window or look for a compact or overflow version of the ribbon group.
Choose a preset layout. Select One, Two, or Three for the corresponding number of columns. The Left and Right presets create two columns with different widths: one column is narrower than the other. Word flows text down the first column and then continues at the top of the next. The page may look different immediately because text has reflowed; that is expected.
Apply columns to only the text you selected, if needed. When text is selected, Word may create section breaks around it automatically so the selected passage can have its own layout. If Word displays an Apply to setting in the advanced column options, choose the option that matches your intention, such as Selected text, This section, or Whole document. Check the pages before and after the selection to make sure the change has not affected more content than intended.
Set custom column widths and spacing. For more control, open Layout > Columns > More Columns. In the dialog, choose the number of columns and adjust their widths and the space between them. Turn on Equal column width when you want matching columns. Clear that option if you want to set different widths. If available in the dialog, select Line between to add a vertical divider. Review the preview and the apply-to setting before confirming.
Start a new column at a chosen point. By default, Word decides where text moves to the next column. To move a heading or paragraph to the top of the next column, click immediately before the text and choose Layout > Breaks > Column. On Mac, use the Layout tab’s Breaks menu and choose Column. This inserts a column break, which is different from repeatedly pressing Enter: the text after the break begins in the next column even if you later edit the text above it.
Use section breaks when columns should stop or change. If columns should apply to just one part of a document, place the cursor at the beginning of that part and choose Layout > Breaks > Continuous. Add another continuous section break where the column layout should end. Click inside the section you want to format, then choose Layout > Columns and select its layout. A continuous section break allows the next section to begin on the same page when space permits. A Next Page section break starts the new section on a new page instead.
Check the finished layout. Scroll through the document and inspect the column bottoms, section transitions, and page breaks. Use Home > Show/Hide ¶ to display paragraph marks and breaks while diagnosing layout issues. If the document is for printing or sharing, use Print Preview or save a PDF to check that the columns look as expected on the page.

Common Mistakes

Choosing columns without selecting the right scope. If you want one paragraph in two columns, selecting it or isolating it in a section matters. Otherwise, Word may apply the layout to the current section or document, depending on the cursor position and existing section structure. Review the pages around the change.
Using tabs or spaces to imitate columns. Spaces and tabs do not create a flowing column layout. Font changes, edits, or a different page size can throw off their alignment. Use the Columns feature for newspaper-style text, or a table when you need independent cells with fixed alignment.
Pressing Enter to force text into the next column. Extra paragraph marks can leave awkward gaps and shift when the text changes. Insert a column break instead, so Word knows the text should continue in the next column.
Confusing a page break with a section break. A page break moves following content to another page but does not create a separate formatting section. Use a continuous or next-page section break when one part of the document needs different columns from another.
Ignoring the apply-to setting. A custom layout can affect the whole document if the wrong scope is selected. Before closing the More Columns dialog, confirm that the intended text, section, or document is selected.

Tips

Draft the text before fine-tuning the layout. Column content reflows as you edit, so spacing that looks balanced with placeholder text may change once the copy is complete.
Keep headings with the content they introduce. If a heading ends up at the bottom of a column, insert a column break before it or adjust paragraph pagination settings. Avoid adding repeated blank lines, which can make the layout fragile.
Use a divider sparingly. A line between columns can help readers distinguish them, but it may make a narrow page feel crowded. Check the printed or PDF version before deciding.
Show formatting marks during layout work. The Show/Hide button makes column breaks, section breaks, and extra paragraph marks visible. Turn it off again when you want a cleaner editing view; the marks do not print.
Choose the right tool for the job. Columns are best for continuous text that flows from one column to another, such as a newsletter. A table is usually better for separate pieces of information that must remain side by side, while text boxes are useful for independently positioned content.

Troubleshooting

The whole document changed to columns. Click within the affected area and inspect the section breaks with Home > Show/Hide ¶. If the passage needs a different layout, insert continuous section breaks before and after it, then apply columns inside that section. In More Columns, verify the apply-to choice before confirming.

Text does not move into the next column where expected. Word fills a column according to the available space and the text’s formatting. Check for an existing column break or section break, and remove unintended ones if necessary. If the next column should begin at a specific heading, place the cursor before the heading and insert a column break. Also check for large paragraph spacing, images, or tables taking up space.

Columns look uneven or have large gaps. Unequal text lengths are normal when Word flows content naturally. If you want specific material to start at the top of the next column, use a column break. If you need balanced columns at the end of a section, Word may not balance them until it reaches the section’s end; add a continuous section break after the column text and check the result. Avoid filling gaps with blank paragraphs, since later edits can make them worse.

The columns are too narrow, or the divider is missing. Open Layout > Columns > More Columns and review the number of columns, width, spacing, and Line between option. A page’s margins limit the width available, so fewer columns or narrower spacing may be needed. If the divider still does not appear, confirm that the option is enabled for the section you are editing.

You cannot find or remove a break. Turn on paragraph marks with Home > Show/Hide ¶, click just before the visible break, and press Delete, or click just after it and press Backspace. Be careful with section breaks: deleting one can merge the neighboring sections and change their formatting. If the result is unexpected, undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac, then check which section’s settings you want to preserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make only one page have two columns?
Put continuous section breaks before and after the page’s content, then click within that section and choose Layout > Columns > Two. If the content must begin on a new page, use a next-page section break at the start. Check that the following section returns to one column.

How do I make columns side by side in Word?
Choose Layout > Columns > Two for flowing text in two vertical columns. If you mean separate blocks that should not flow into one another, insert a table or use text boxes instead; those are different layouts.

Can I make the columns different widths?
Yes. Open Layout > Columns > More Columns, clear Equal column width if it is selected, and set the widths and spacing. The available space depends on the page size and margins.

How do I move text to the next column in Word?
Place the cursor before the text you want to move, then choose Layout > Breaks > Column. This inserts a column break. It does not add a new page or change the column layout.

Why are my columns not lining up at the bottom?
Word flows text in order, so the columns may end at different heights. A section break at the end of the column section can let Word balance the columns, though the exact result depends on the content and page space. For a deliberate starting point, use a column break rather than adding empty paragraphs.

Will Word columns work the same way on Mac?
The main process is similar: select the text or place the cursor in the section, then use Layout > Columns. Ribbon placement and dialog labels can vary slightly by version. Use the Layout tab’s Breaks menu for column and section breaks.

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