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How to Split a Word Document into Columns

Word can lay text out in newspaper-style columns, where text automatically flows from the bottom of one column to the top of the next.

  1. Open the Layout tab

    Go to the Layout tab in the ribbon.

  2. Click Columns

    In the Page Setup group, click the Columns button.

  3. Choose the number of columns

    Select Two, Three, or another option from the list to split the document, or selected text, into that many columns.

  4. Adjust spacing and add a dividing line

    Click "More Columns" to fine-tune the spacing between columns or add a vertical line between them.

Apply it to a selection, not just the whole document

Selecting a block of text before opening Columns splits only that selection into columns, using automatic section breaks around it, rather than converting the entire document β€” useful when only one part of a page, like a sidebar or a list, needs a multi-column layout.

Typical use case

Newsletters, flyers, and academic papers formatted for two-column printing are the most common reasons to use this feature, since it lets text reflow automatically instead of manually placing separate text boxes side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can each column have a different width?

Yes β€” in the More Columns dialog, uncheck "Equal column width" and then set a custom width and spacing for each column individually.

Why did my whole document turn into columns when I only wanted one section?

If no text was selected before applying columns, Word applies the setting to the whole document, or the whole section the cursor is in. Select the specific text first, or add section breaks manually, to limit the effect.