How to rotate text in Microsoft Word

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Horizontal, angled, and vertical text in Microsoft Word

By default, text is displayed horizontally in Microsoft Word. There may be cases where you want to rotate text to display at an angle or vertically instead. Rotating words, sentences, pictures, and other information can improve the document's visual appeal and direct extra attention to important details on a page.

How to rotate text in a Word document

To rotate text in Word, you must first create a text box. Then, this object is turned to achieve the desired effect. To learn how to perform these actions, select your version of Microsoft Word below and follow the steps.

Microsoft Word Online

  1. Open or create a document in Microsoft Word Online (the web version). In the document, click the place where you want to add rotated text.
  2. In the Ribbon at the top, click the Insert tab.
  3. In the Illustrations section of the Insert tab, click the Drawing option.

Drawing option on the Insert tab of Microsoft Word Online.

  1. In the Drawing (Preview) window, click the Text Box option (A).
  2. In the space below the mini Ribbon with insert options, draw the text box (B). Press and hold the left mouse button, drag down and to the right, and then release the mouse button to create the text box.

Drawing a text box in Microsoft Word Online.

  1. In the mini Ribbon, click the Text option (C).
  2. Type the text in the text box (D) that you want to rotate. To format the text, like bold, italics, font size, type, or color, highlight the text and select the desired format options in the mini Ribbon.
  3. Click the Click and Save button (E) in the top-right corner of the Drawing window to insert the text box with text.

Adding text and inserting a text box in Microsoft Word Online.

  1. To rotate the text box and the text inside it, click the Rotate text box icon in Microsoft Word icon above the text box. While pressing the left mouse button on that rotate icon, drag the mouse clockwise or counterclockwise to rotate the text box.

Rotating a text box clockwise and counterclockwise in Microsoft Word.

Tip

To make additional changes to the text box or the text inside it, right-click it and select Edit Drawing. Make the desired changes, and then click Save and Close to apply the changes.

Microsoft Word desktop application

  1. Open an existing Microsoft Word file or create a new one, and click to place the text cursor where you want to add rotated text.
  2. In the Ribbon at the top, click the Insert tab.
  3. In the Text section of the Insert tab, click the Text Box option.

Text Box option in Text section of the Insert tab in Microsoft Word.

  1. In the drop-down menu, select a Built-in type of text box (A) to add to the document or select Draw Text Box (B) to create a plain text box.

Text Box selection menu in Microsoft Word

  1. If you selected a built-in text box, it is inserted in the document at the location of the text cursor. If you selected the Draw Text Box option, press and hold the left mouse button, then drag the mouse down and to the right. Release the left mouse button after "drawing" a square or rectangle text box.
  2. In the newly-added text box, delete any sample text added by Microsoft Word, then type the text you want to rotate.
  3. To rotate the text box and text in it, click the Rotate text box icon in Microsoft Word icon above the text box. While pressing the left mouse button on that rotate icon, drag the mouse clockwise or counterclockwise to rotate the text box.

Rotating a text box clockwise and counterclockwise in Microsoft Word.

Tip

To format the text box to change the fill color, border, or other attributes, right-click the text box and select Format Picture in the pop-up menu. A Format Picture pane opens on the right side of the program window, providing multiple options for formatting the text box.

Tip

To precisely set the rotation value, click the text box, then in the Ribbon at the top, click the Shape Format tab. Choose Arrange and Rotate, and set the desired rotation value.