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How to Set Up Multiple Columns in Word

Tap through each step to arrange your document into clean, readable columns.

  1. Select the text to affect

    Highlight the specific text you want split into columns, or select nothing to apply the change to the whole document.

  2. Go to Layout > Columns

    Open the "Layout" tab and click "Columns."

  3. Choose two or three columns

    Pick a preset column count and your text automatically reflows into a newspaper- or newsletter-style layout.

  4. Adjust column width and spacing

    Select "More Columns" to fine-tune the exact width of each column and the gap between them.

  5. Insert a column break

    To force text to jump to the next column at a specific point, use Layout > Breaks > Column.

Columns for newsletters, brochures, and handouts

A single wide column of text becomes hard to scan once it stretches across a full page. Splitting content into two or three narrower columns β€” the same technique used in newspapers and magazines β€” shortens each line, making dense text noticeably easier to read on printed handouts, event programs, or newsletters.

Balancing columns and mixing layouts

If your columns end up uneven in length, insert a "Continuous" section break at the point where you want the text to rebalance evenly across columns. You can also combine a single-column header or title area with a multi-column body by applying columns only to a selected block of text rather than the entire document.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I go back to a single column?

Select the columned text, go to Layout > Columns, and choose "One" to restore a standard single-column layout.

Why is one column much longer than the other?

Word fills columns sequentially, so uneven text length is normal near the end of a section. Insert a continuous section break where you want the balance to reset, or manually add a column break at a natural stopping point.