Rounded Corners for a Text Box

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 2, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365

When Manuel uses the Text Box tool on the Insert tab of the ribbon, Word allows him to draw a text box anywhere in his document. This text box is always rectangular, but Manuel wonders if there is a way to create a text box that has rounded corners.

Word actually gives you quite a bit of control when it comes to text boxes. That is because in past versions of Word there was a great deal of difference between text boxes and shapes, but in later versions there has been very little actual difference between them. Thus, one way is to not use the Text Box tool to draw text boxes. Instead, use the Shapes tool (Insert tab of the ribbon, Illustrations group) to create a shape. You can then format the shape to appear just like a text box and even add text within the shape. (To add text, right-click the border of the shape and choose Add Text from the Context menu.)

If you prefer to stay with text boxes or you simply want to change the nature of text boxes already in your document, then follow these steps:

Select your text box.
Display the Format tab of the ribbon. (This tab is visible only when the text box is selected.)
Click the Edit Shape tool, in the Insert Shapes group. Word displays some options.
Choose Change Shape. Word displays a wide assortment of shapes.
Click a shape—the rounded-corner rectangle is a good choice.

Word obediently changes your text box to a shape but remembers all the formatting you'd previously applied to the text box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5960) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 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. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Protecting Bookmarks

Bookmarks are a great boon in developing and working with documents—until someone deletes them. When it comes to ...

Discover More

Modifying Error Alerts Received

Excel helpfully lets you know when the data or formulas you've entered in a cell don't make sense. It does this by ...

Discover More

Adding a Drop Shadow to a Text Box

One way to make your text boxes "stand off" the page is to add a drop shadow to them. This tip shows just how easy it is ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Using Non-Printing Text Boxes

Text boxes can be helpful for segmenting information from your main document and for creating unique page layouts. What ...

Discover More

Making Text Boxes Appear in a Printout

Add some text boxes to your document, and you might be surprised if they don't appear when you print the document. If ...

Discover More

Inserting a Text Box

Many people use text boxes to help organize and layout information on the page. Here's how you can add text boxes to your ...

Discover More

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.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 8 - 2?

2021-03-19 16:35:45

David Wayne Hanby

Dear Sir,

Your tip on how to create a rounded border does not work. Additionally, your terminology is not recognized.

Could you retry explaining creating rounded borders please. Thanks

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.