How to Double Space in Word – 5 Methods (Windows & Mac)
Quick answer: Select your text, then press Ctrl + 2 on Windows or Cmd + 2 on Mac to instantly apply double spacing in Word.
Tip: To change it back to single spacing later, press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Cmd + 1 (Mac).
If you’re wondering how to double space in Word, there are several easy methods available. You can use the Home tab, keyboard shortcuts, paragraph settings, or even make double spacing the default for all future documents.
Double spacing in Word is one of the most commonly required formatting tasks — whether you’re submitting a college essay, a legal document, or just making a long report easier to read. The good news? It takes less than 10 seconds once you know where to look.
What Is Double Spacing in Word?
In Microsoft Word, double spacing sets the vertical line interval to 2.0. This is exactly twice the height of single spacing. It inserts a clean, blank line between every line of text.
Academic formatting styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago strictly require double spacing. It improves general readability and leaves physical room for teachers, editors, or lawyers to write handwritten notes and corrections.
Method 1: How to Double Space in Word Using the Home Tab
This is the fastest and most beginner-friendly way to double space text in Word.
- Select your text: Click and drag to highlight a specific section. Press
Ctrl+Ato select your entire document. - Open the Home tab: Locate this in the top menu ribbon.
- Click Line Spacing: Look for the icon with horizontal lines and vertical arrows in the Paragraph group.
- Choose 2.0: Click 2.0 from the dropdown menu.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut to Double Space in Word
If you’re looking for the quickest way to learn how to double space in Word, the built-in keyboard shortcut is hard to beat.
Windows: Select text → Press Ctrl + 2
Mac: Select text → Press Cmd + 2
To go back to single spacing, press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Cmd + 1 (Mac).
Method 3: Use the Paragraph Dialog Box (Most Control)
If your spacing still looks uneven, you need absolute control over your paragraph layout.
- Select your text.
- Click the Home tab.
- Click the small arrow icon at the bottom-right of the Paragraph group to open the Paragraph settings dialog box.
- Under Line Spacing, open the dropdown and choose Double.
- Crucial Step: Set both Before and After boxes to 0 pt to ensure perfect spacing.
- Click OK.
This method also lets you remove extra spacing before/after paragraphs — helpful if regular double spacing looks uneven.
Method 4: Design Tab – Apply Double Spacing to the Whole Document
This method is useful when you need to know how to double space in Word for an entire document without manually selecting text first.
- Open your Microsoft Word document.
- Click the Design tab in the top ribbon.
- Click Paragraph Spacing in the Document Formatting group.
- Select Double from the dropdown menu.
When to use this: Best when you want to double spacing in word the whole document at once without selecting text. Note that it affects every paragraph including headings, so review your formatting afterwards.
Method 5: How to Double Space in Word on a Mac
The steps on Mac are nearly identical but use different menu labels:
- Select your text (or press Cmd + A to select all).
- Click Format in the Apple top menu bar.
- Select Paragraph.
- In the Paragraph window, under Line Spacing, choose Double.
- Click OK.
Shortcut on Mac: Cmd + 2 after selecting your text.
How to Set Double Spacing as Default in Word
Stop changing your settings every time you open a new file. You can force Word to always open with double spacing.
- Go to Home → Line and Paragraph Spacing → Line Spacing Options.
- In the Paragraph dialog, set Line Spacing to Double.
- Click Set As Default (bottom-left of the dialog).
- Choose “All documents based on the Normal template”.
- Click OK.
Every new document will now open with double spacing automatically.
Troubleshooting: Why Is Double Space in Word Not Working?
If your document still doesn’t look right after applying double spacing, here are the most common causes:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Extra space between paragraphs | Set “Spacing Before” and “After” to 0pt in Paragraph settings |
| Only part of the text changed | Use Ctrl+A to select ALL text before applying spacing |
| Spacing reverts after typing | Set double spacing as your default (see Method above) |
| Shortcut not working | Make sure text is selected first before pressing the shortcut |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact line spacing measurement for double space?
It is exactly 2.0. This scales dynamically based on your current font size. For example, if you use a 12pt font, your line spacing gap will be 24pt.
How do I double space on Microsoft Word Web / Online?
Select your text on the screen. Click the Layout tab in the top web ribbon. Click Line Spacing and choose 2. The change saves automatically to your OneDrive cloud.
Does double spacing apply to my headers, footers, and footnotes?
No. Standard document line spacing only alters the main body text. You must double-click inside headers, footers, or footnotes individually to change their specific formatting rules.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to double space in Word is an essential formatting skill for students, writers, researchers, and professionals. Whether you use the Home tab, keyboard shortcuts, or the Paragraph dialog box, applying double spacing takes only a few seconds.
If you regularly create academic papers or manuscripts, setting double spacing as the default can save time and ensure your documents always meet formatting requirements.