How to Show (or Add) the Ruler in Word Online

Turn on the ruler in Word for the web

1. Open your document in Word for the web and make sure you're in Editing mode (not Viewing or Reading view).
2. Select the View tab on the ribbon.
3. Check Ruler.

The horizontal ruler appears above the page, with markers for the left and right margins, first-line and hanging indents, and tab stops. Uncheck the box to hide it again.

Ruler missing?

• Switch from Reading view or Viewing mode to Editing.
• Use Print Layout rather than Immersive Reader.
• Widen the browser window: a very narrow window can collapse ribbon options.

Word's ruler isn't a real ruler

The Word ruler measures the page layout, not physical size: at 125% zoom an "inch" on it is bigger than a real inch. To measure an actual object, open our actual-size online ruler in another tab and calibrate it once.