How to Add Caption to Image in Google Docs (4 Easy Ways)

So here you will lean how to add caption to image in Google Docs with 4 proven methods: using Inline Text, the Drawing Tool, a Table, or a Caption Maker Add-on. This guide covers all of them step by step.

In Google Docs, you can do figure numbering, add a table caption, and add text to an image — but there is no built-in one-click caption feature for images.

Method 1: Add a Caption Using Inline Text Directly Below the Image

The inline text method is the fastest way to add a caption to image in Google Docs. It works best for simple documents where you don’t need to move the image around later.

Open your Google Docs document on your desktop.
Go to Insert → Image and upload your image.
Click on the image — a toolbar will appear below it.
Select the In line option from the toolbar.
Click after the image and press Enter.
Type your caption text, then center it, reduce the font size to 10–11pt, and italicize it.

how to add caption to image in google docs using inline text — Select the “In line” option below the image to enable inline captioning in Google Docs

If you have more than two figures, you will need to manually number them (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) in Google Docs. For automatic numbering, use the Caption Maker add-on covered in Method 4.

Method 2: Add a Caption Using the Drawing Tool

The Drawing tool lets you combine the image and caption into a single object. This is ideal when your image is wrapped with text or needs to be repositioned freely in the document.

In the menu bar, go to Insert → Drawing → + New.
A drawing panel will open. Click the Image icon to upload your image.
You can upload from your computer, by URL, Google Drive, or Albums.

How to add captions to images in Google Docs using drawing tool — Click the Image icon in the Drawing panel to upload your photo

After inserting the image, click the Text Box icon (looks like a T in a box) from the toolbar.
Draw a text box below the image inside the drawing canvas.
Type your caption text. You can adjust font size, color, bold, or italic from the toolbar.
Click Save and Close.

Google Docs image caption using drawing tool - text box below image — Draw a text box below your image in the Drawing panel and type your caption

Your image and caption are now a single grouped object — move it anywhere in the document and the caption stays attached.

Method 3: Add a Caption Using a Table

Using a table is the most reliable way to add a caption to an image in Google Docs. The image and caption stay locked together no matter how much content you add above or below.

In the menu bar, click Insert → Table and select a 1×2 grid (1 column, 2 rows).
You now have two cells — one for the image and one for the caption.

Insert 1x2 table in Google Docs to add image caption — Select a 1×2 table — top cell for the image, bottom cell for the caption

Click the top cell and go to Insert → Image to upload your photo. You can also drag and drop an existing image directly into the cell.

How to add a caption to a photo in Google Docs using table method — Insert your image in the top cell of the table

Click the bottom cell and type your caption. Center it, reduce font size to 10–11pt, and italicize it.
Adjust the table border — right-click the table → Table properties → set border to 0pt to make it invisible.

Add caption in second cell of table in Google Docs — Type the caption in the bottom cell — remove table borders for a clean look

Result: A professional-looking image with a clean caption below — no visible table border.

Method 4: Caption Maker Add-on — Best for Multiple Images

If your document has many images that need numbered captions (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.), the Caption Maker add-on is the most efficient solution. It also supports table captions and drawing captions.

Go to Extensions → Add-ons → Get add-ons.
Search for “Caption Maker” in the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Install it and grant the required permissions.
Click on your image, then go to Extensions → Caption Maker → Add Caption.
Choose placement (Above or Below), formatting, and numbering options.
Confirm — the caption is added automatically.

Caption Maker works for images, drawings, and tables — making it the most versatile option for complex documents.

How to Add a Caption to a Table in Google Docs

Besides images, you may also need to caption a data table in your document. The easiest way to do this is via the Caption Maker add-on, which lets you:

Place the caption above or below the table
Control formatting (font, size, style)
Add automatic table numbering (Table 1, Table 2, etc.)

Alternatively, simply click above or below your table and type the caption manually, formatted in italic and smaller font size.

Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Best For	Difficulty
Inline Text	Quick, simple documents	Very Easy
Drawing Tool	Floating or wrapped images	Medium
Table (1×2)	Most documents, academic papers	Easy
Caption Maker Add-on	Many images, figure numbering, table captions	Medium

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep the caption attached to the image in Google Docs?

Use the table method or the Drawing tool method. Both group the image and caption together so they don’t separate when you add or edit content above them in the document.

How do I add a Figure number to captions in Google Docs?

You can manually type “Figure 1:”, “Figure 2:”, etc. before your caption text. For automatic figure numbering across many images, use the Caption Maker add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace.

How do I remove the border from a table used as a caption in Google Docs?

Right-click the table and select Table properties. Under the Color section, set the border width to 0pt. This makes the table invisible while keeping your image and caption neatly aligned.

Final Thoughts

Now you know exactly how to add a caption to an image in Google Docs using 4 different methods. For most users, the table method is the best choice — it’s clean, stable, and requires no add-ons. For documents with many images, Caption Maker saves the most time with automatic numbering.