How to Remove Borders in Microsoft Word

Many elements in a Word document can have borders, either by default or added by a collaborator. From a page to a text box to a table, we’ll show you how to remove these types of borders in Microsoft Word.

remove margin

A page frame must be added manually in Word. So if you’re working on a document with someone else who’s added a margin that you want to remove, it only takes a minute.

Go to the Design tab and click Page Borders in the Page Background section of the ribbon.

When the Margins and Shading panel opens, select the Margins tab. Under “Setting” on the left, select “None”.

At the bottom right under Apply to, use the drop-down box to select which sides to remove the border from based on where they are placed. You can select the entire document, the current section or the current section for the first page, or all pages except the first page.

Click “OK” and your margin should disappear.

Remove a text box border

By default, when you add a text box to your Word document, it includes a border. You may want to remove the border to help the text blend into your document.

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Select the text box and go to the Shape Format tab. In the Shape Styles section of the ribbon, click the Shape Outline drop-down box. Choose No Outline.

You will then see the border of your text box disappear. To locate the edges of the text box when you want to resize or move it, simply select a spot in the text. You will then see a dotted line around the text box.

Remove a shape border

Some shapes you draw in Word can also include a border by default. You can remove the frame similar to deleting a frame from a text box.

Select the shape and go to the Shape Format tab. Click the Shape Outline drop-down box and choose No Outline.

And just like that, the edge of the shape is removed.

Remove a table border

Similar to text boxes and shapes, a table in Word includes a border by default. While it’s a great way to structure data in a document, you might not want the frame at all.

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Note that when you remove a table border, you see a dotted line border instead. This is only to show the table outline, but will not appear when you print the document.

You have two ways to remove a table border in Word.

Use the Table Design tab

Select the table and go to the Table Design tab. On the right side of the ribbon, select the Border drop-down arrow in the Borders section of the ribbon. Choose No Border from the list.

Use table properties

Right-click the table and select Table Properties from the context menu.

In the Table Properties window that appears, confirm you are on the Table tab and click Borders and Shading in the lower right corner.

Under Settings on the left, select None, then click OK.

Click OK to close the Table Properties window and the border should be gone.

Remove an image border

Like a page frame, you have to add a picture frame manually in Word. Maybe someone else added a frame that you want to remove.

Select the image and go to the Image Format tab. In the Picture Styles section of the ribbon, click the Picture Frame drop-down arrow. Choose No Outline.

You will then see the edge of the image disappear.

Note that you can’t remove it in Word if it’s part of the image and wasn’t even added to the Word document. Use your image editor to remove the border, then paste the image back into your document.

Remove a chart border

By default, when you insert a chart from the Insert tab in Word, the chart has a border. Again, this may not be something you want to show in your document.

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Right-click the chart and select Format Chart Area from the context menu.

When the sidebar opens, select “Chart Options” at the top, then open the Fill and Line option. Expand the Border section and check the No Line option at the top.

You can then use the X in the top right of the sidebar to close it, and your chart should become borderless.

Whether you have a document with a border, or a document element such as an image or chart, remember that you have the ability to remove that border to get the look you want.

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