How to Insert Rectangle in Google Docs and Square

To insert rectangle in Google Docs, you’ll use the built-in drawing tool — it’s the same tool that lets you make a rectangle, a rectangle with soft edges, or a rounded corners rectangle, etc. in Google Docs. The same tool also lets you make a perfect square if that’s what you need instead.

You can customize the rectangle box with text, add a color background, font style, etc. So let us see how to insert rectangle in Google Docs — and how to turn it into a square.

Quick Answer

The fastest way to insert rectangle in Google Docs is to go to Insert > Drawing > +New, select Shapes from the toolbar, choose the rectangle, then click and drag on the canvas to draw it. Click Save and Close to place it in your document. Hold Shift while dragging to make a perfect square instead.

How to Insert a Rectangle in Google Docs

Open Google Docs on your desktop computer.

To insert rectangle in Google Docs, in the “Menu Bar” click the “Insert” option, then click on the “Drawing” option.

Click on “+New.” It will open a new window called the Drawing Panel.

In the Google Docs Drawings panel, select the “Shapes” option from the toolbar. Then select the rectangle shape that you want to draw in Google Docs.

With the help of a mouse, draw the rectangular size box according to your needs to insert rectangle in Google Docs. See the example below.

After making the rectangle, you can customize it by changing its size, border, and fill color. Click on the “Save and Close” button to save it. Your Google Docs rectangle will automatically appear in the document.

That’s it! You have successfully inserted a rectangle in your Google Docs document. You can now customize it further by changing its position, size, and other properties.

How to Make a Square in Google Docs

A square is just a rectangle with equal sides, so making one in Google Docs uses the same Drawing panel — the only difference is how you drag the shape.

1. Follow the same steps above to open Insert > Drawing > +New and select the rectangle shape from Shapes.
2. Click on the canvas and drag diagonally while holding Shift. Holding Shift constrains the width and height to stay equal, turning the rectangle into a perfect square.
3. Release the mouse once the square is the size you want, then style and save it the same way as a rectangle.

If you already drew a rectangle and want to turn it into an exact square afterward, double-click it to reopen the Drawing panel, click the shape to select it, then drag a corner handle while holding Shift to force equal proportions.

How to Edit or Resize a Rectangle After Inserting It

1. Double-click the rectangle in your document to reopen the Drawing panel.
2. Click the shape to select it — small blue handles will appear at its corners and edges.
3. Drag any handle to resize, or drag the shape itself to reposition it on the canvas.
4. Use the toolbar to change fill color, border color, border weight, or border style (solid, dashed, dotted).
5. Click Save and Close to apply your changes back into the document.

How to Add Text Inside a Rectangle or Square

To label a shape or use it as a callout box, double-click the rectangle to reopen the Drawing panel, then double-click directly on the shape itself — this opens a text cursor inside it. Type your label, adjust font size and alignment from the text toolbar that appears, and click Save and Close when finished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The Drawing tool is the only built-in way to insert a rectangle or square in Google Docs, but it’s flexible enough for most use cases — callout boxes, diagram borders, simple flowcharts, or basic layout blocks — once you know the Shift-drag trick for perfect squares.

Adding shapes such as a rectangle to your Google Docs document can help make your content more visually appealing and easier to read.