Add or remove borders for text boxes, pictures, and shapes

Used sparingly, borders are a great way to get attention. Here's how to add a line, pattern, or custom border to a text box, picture, and other objects in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel for Mac.

Note: If you didn't add the border to the shape, text box, picture, or other object in Mac Office, you can't change or remove the border for the object.

2016 2011



Word

Add or remove a border for a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box to which you want to add or remove a border.

2. Click Shape Format, and then click the arrow next to Shape Outline.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style that you want.
   Remove the border from the shape or text box	Click No Outline.

Add or remove a picture border

1. Select the picture to which you want to add or remove a border.

2. Click Picture Format, and then click the arrow next to Picture Border.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style you want.
   Remove the border from the picture	Click No Outline.

PowerPoint

Add or remove a border for a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box to which you want to add or remove a border.

2. Click Shape Format, and then click the arrow next to Shape Outline .

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style you want.
   Remove the border from the shape or text box	Click No Outline.

Add or remove a picture border

1. Select the picture whose border you want to add or remove.

2. Click Picture Format, and then click the arrow next to Picture Border.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border.	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style you want.
   Remove the border from the picture	Click No Outline.

Excel

Add or remove a border for a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box to which you want to add or remove a border.

2. Click Shape Format, and then click the arrow next to the Shape Outline.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style you want.
   Remove the border from the shape or text box	Click No Outline.

Add or remove a picture border

1. Select the picture whose border you want to add or remove.

2. Click Picture Format, and then click the arrow next to Picture Border.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add or change the color of the border	Either click the color you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Outline Colors.
   Add or change the thickness of the border	Point to Weight, and then choose the line weight you want.
   Add or change the style of the border	Point to Dashes, and then click the line style you want.
   Remove the border from the picture	Click No Outline.

Word

Do any of the following:

Add a border to a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format tab, under Shape Styles, click Line.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

Add borders to a table

1. Select the table that you want to add borders to.

2. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	On the Tables tab, under Table Styles, click the arrow next to Lines, and then either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the Line Weight   pop-up menu and choose the thickness that you want the borders to be.
   Add a border of a specific style	On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the Line Style  pop-up menu, and choose the line style that you want the borders to have.

3. On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the arrow next to Borders  and then select or clear the table borders that you want.

   

Add a border to a picture

1. Select the picture that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format Picture tab, under Picture Styles, click the arrow next to Border  .

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

PowerPoint

Do any of the following:

Add a border to a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format tab, under Shape Styles, click Line.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

Add borders to a table

1. Select the table that you want to add borders to.

2. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	On the Tables tab, under Table Styles, click the arrow next to Lines, and then either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the Line Weight   pop-up menu and choose the thickness that you want the borders to be.
   Add a border of a specific style	On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the Line Style  pop-up menu, and choose the line style that you want the borders to have.

3. On the Tables tab, under Draw Borders, click the arrow next to Borders  and then select or clear the table borders that you want.

   

Add a border to a picture

1. Select the picture that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format Picture tab, under Picture Styles, click the arrow next to Border  .

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

Excel

Do any of the following:

Add a border to a shape or text box

1. Select the shape or text box that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format tab, under Shape Styles, click Line.

   

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

Add a border to a picture

1. Select the picture that you want to add a border to.

2. On the Format Picture tab, under Picture Styles, click the arrow next to Border  .

3. Do any of the following:

   To	Do This
   Add a colored border	Either click the color that you want, or mix your own color by clicking More Colors.
   Add a border of a specific thickness	Point to Weights, and then choose the line weight that you want.
   Add a border of a specific style	Point to Dashed, and then click the line style that you want.

See also

Add, change, or remove a page border