Tech Reference

How to double space in Google Docs on desktop or mobile, or add custom spacing

Written by Steven John and William Antonelli
typing on Mac
Changing the line spacing in Google Docs isn't hard. lechatnoir/Getty Images
Updated
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Google Docs is one of the most popular word processors available today. This isn't hard to understand, considering that its tools and features are all pretty easy to use.

One of the most popular features in word processors is line spacing. And luckily, if you need to double space your Google Doc, you can do so in just a few clicks.

Google Docs offers a variety of spacing options. On both the website and mobile app, you can set your line spacing at 1.00, 1.15, 1.5, or 2.00 — a range from single spacing to double spacing. And on the website, you can even set a custom spacing style, or give extra spacing to specific paragraphs.

Here's how to do it using either the website or mobile app.

How to double space on the Google Docs website

As noted above, the Google Docs website gives you much more control over your line spacing. So if possible, this is the best way to edit your documents.

1. Open the Google Doc you want to edit, or create a new one.

2. In the toolbar near the top of the screen, click the icon that looks like a vertical arrowed line with three lines next to it. This is the Line spacing menu.

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"Line spacing" is next to the alignment options.  Steven John/Insider

3. Select the spacing style that you want from the presets, or click Custom spacing. This lets you input your own spacing value, both between lines and paragraphs; click Apply when you're done here.

You can also use the Add space and Remove space options to set how much space you want between paragraphs. This lets you have different spacing styles for lines and paragraphs.

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The web version of Google Docs gives you more line spacing options.  Steven John/Insider

How to double space in the Google Docs app

1. In the Google Docs app, open or create the file you want to edit.

2. While in editing mode, tap the capital A icon at the top of the screen.

IMG_3628
Tap the highlighted button to bring up the formatting menu.  Steven John/Insider

3. Tap the word "Paragraph" in the pop-up window.

4. To the right of the words "Line spacing," tap the up arrow until the number reads 2.00 to get double spacing. You're restricted to the preset values here — you can't set custom spacing.

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As you increase the spacing, your changes will take effect immediately.  Steven John/Insider

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.
WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.