Whether you’re drafting an academic paper, formatting a business report, or simply aiming for cleaner readability, knowing how to perform double line spacing in Google Docs is essential. Double spacing increases the vertical space between lines of text, making your document easier to read and more visually balanced. It’s also a common requirement in school assignments, especially when following APA, MLA, or Chicago style guidelines.
Google Docs offers a user-friendly way to apply double spacing without the need for complicated formatting tools. With just a few clicks, you can adjust your document’s line spacing using the built-in Line & Paragraph spacing options. This feature gives you full control over how much space appears between lines, whether across the whole document or within selected sections.
Applying double spacing can improve the overall flow of your writing, allowing room for comments, edits, and easier visual scanning. It’s especially useful when sharing documents with editors, instructors, or collaborators who need to review or annotate your work. In this article, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to apply double line spacing in Google Docs.
Watch:How To Adjust Margins In Google Docs
Perform Double Line Spacing In Google Docs
Select the text or entire document
Highlight the section of text you want to double space. To apply it across the entire document, press Ctrl + A (or Cmd + A on Mac) to select all.
Click “Format” on the top menu bar
Go to the top of the screen and click the Format tab to open formatting options.
Place your cursor on “Line & Paragraph Spacing”
Hover over this option to reveal the spacing options in the drop-down menu.
Select “Double”
Click Double to apply double spacing to your selected text. The change will happen instantly.
This method helps make your text more readable and is ideal when submitting documents that require specific formatting standards like APA or MLA.
How To Custom Line Spacing In Google Docs
If double spacing doesn’t meet your exact needs, Google Docs also allows for custom line spacing values, giving you more flexibility.
Steps to Apply Custom Line Spacing:
Select the text or part of the document
Highlight the section where you want to apply a specific spacing value.
Click “Line & Paragraph Spacing” in the toolbar or Format menu
This opens spacing options directly from the toolbar.
Select “Custom Spacing”
This option lets you define your own spacing value beyond the preset choices.
Enter your preferred line spacing value and click “OK”
You can enter values like 1.15, 1.5, 2.5, etc. Click Apply to apply and save your changes.
Custom spacing is ideal when tailoring your document’s appearance for different formats, readers, or publishing standards.
