Adding Custom Page Border Art

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 5, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365


Theresa notes that on the Design tab of the ribbon she can choose to add a page border to her document. There is even an Art setting that allows a wide selection of graphics to be used for the border. Theresa wonders if there is a way to add to the art options. She would like to create a page border that uses her company logo in the same way these art options are usable.

The short answer is that there is no way to do this. Word doesn't allow the addition of custom art to the built-in collection that is accessible through the Art setting.

That means the only solution is to devise a workaround. The classic solution is to use a graphics program to create an image that covers the page area with the border you want. For instance, if you have a small logo and you want it to appear a half-inch from all sides of your page, you could create an image that is 7.5" x 10" and then repeat the logo around the entire edge of the image. Save it out using a format such as PNG or JPG.

Next, go into the header or footer of your Word document and place the image there. Then, use the sizing and positioning controls within Word to make sure the image is 0.5 inches from the top and left sides of the page. You can then remove text wrapping for the image and instruct that it be placed behind text.

By placing the image in the header or footer, it ensures that your "border" appears on every page of your document. The drawback is that it may make it more difficult to place other information in your header or footer, in addition to the image.

Of course, using this workaround will take some trial and error to get things right. You'll also want to print a couple of times during your testing to make sure that you get satisfactory results on the printout.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1850) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Capitalizing Just a Surname

Changing the capitalization of text is, believe it or not, a common task in Excel. Common or not, it can be frustrating ...

Discover More

Adding Phrases to the Grammar Checker

Word's grammar checker dutifully tries to mark all the questionable grammar in your sentences. If you are tired of a ...

Discover More

Changing ToolTips for a Macro Button

Want to change the ToolTip that appears when you hover the mouse over a button on a toolbar? It's a bit more involved ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Inserting an Image On a Specific Page

Macros are great for processing a document just the way you want. You can even use them to insert graphics, as described ...

Discover More

Removing a Watermark

Word allows you to add watermarks to your documents. If you inherit a document that includes a watermark, you may be at a ...

Discover More

Keeping an Image Centered in a Table Cell

Tables are often used in Word documents to help with page layout. This may lead you to inserting images within the cells ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is seven more than 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.