How to Show the Ruler in Google Docs

View > Show ruler turns it on or off. Plus how to set margins, indents and tab stops with it, and why the ruler can be missing.

Updated

Diagram of an online document editor with the View menu open and Show ruler ticked, with horizontal and vertical rulers around the page

To show the ruler in Google Docs, click View in the menu at the top of your document, then click Show ruler. A tick next to it means the ruler is on. The same click hides it again.

Show or hide the ruler

  1. Open your document in Google Docs on a computer.
  2. Click View at the top.
  3. Click Show ruler.

The ruler appears above the page, and a vertical ruler runs down the left side. Google Docs normally shows the ruler when you open a document, so if it’s gone, someone turned it off with this same option.

No View menu?

If you can’t see File, Edit, View at the top, the menus are hidden. Press Ctrl+Shift+F (on a Mac, Cmd+Shift+F), or click the small arrow at the top right of the toolbar, to bring them back.

Missing the vertical ruler

The vertical ruler measures the page from top to bottom. If your document uses the Pageless format, which has no page breaks, you may only see the ruler across the top. To switch back to pages, go to File > Page setup and choose Pages.

Use the ruler for margins and indents

  • Gray ends of the ruler are the page margins. Drag the boundary between gray and white to change a margin for the whole document.
  • Blue downward triangle sets the left indent for the selected paragraphs.
  • Blue bar above it sets the first-line indent, for paragraphs that start further in.
  • Blue triangle at the right sets the right indent.

Select the paragraphs first. Indent markers only move the text you’ve selected, while margins change the whole document.

Add tab stops

Click a spot on the ruler, and Google Docs asks what kind of tab stop to add: left, center, right or decimal. Press Tab in your text to jump to it. To remove a tab stop, drag it down off the ruler.

Phones and tablets

The Google Docs apps for Android and iPhone don’t have a ruler. Open the document in a web browser on a computer to use one.

Measuring real objects

The Docs ruler measures your page, and it scales with zoom, so it won’t match a real ruler held against the screen. To measure something physical on your display, use a ruler calibrated to your screen, such as our inch ruler or cm ruler. Or print our printable ruler at 100%.

Frequently asked questions

How do I show the ruler in Google Docs?

At the top of the document, click View, then click Show ruler. A tick next to it means the ruler is on. Click it again to hide the ruler.

Why is there no ruler in the Google Docs app?

The ruler is part of Google Docs in a web browser on a computer. The phone and tablet apps don't show one, so open the document in Chrome or another browser on a computer to use it.

How do I add a tab stop with the ruler in Google Docs?

Select the paragraphs, click the spot on the ruler where you want the tab, and choose a left, center, right or decimal tab stop from the menu that appears. Drag a tab stop off the ruler to remove it.

Why can't I see the View menu in Google Docs?

The menus are probably hidden. Click the small arrow at the top right of the toolbar, or press Ctrl+Shift+F (Cmd+Shift+F on a Mac), to show them again.

Is the Google Docs ruler accurate for measuring things?

No. It measures the page you're writing on and changes with the zoom level, so it won't match a real ruler held against your screen. Use a calibrated online ruler for that.

More measuring guides