Formatting Issues

How to Create a Line Wider Than 6 Points in Word

John Wilson Oct 7, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to draw or insert a line in a Word document that exceeds the standard 6-point thickness limit.

How to Create a Line Wider Than 6 Points in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding custom thick dividers or borders to paragraphs and tables where standard borders are too thin.
Observed behavior: The default Borders and Shading dialog restricts paragraph and table border widths to a maximum of six points.

Before you start

Determine exactly where you need the thick line to appear, as using drawn shapes instead of standard paragraph borders will require manual positioning and anchoring.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Shapes Tool for Custom Line Weights

Since paragraph and table borders are strictly limited to 6 points, inserting a line shape allows you to bypass this restriction and set any custom thickness.

While standard Word formatting restricts traditional borders, the Shapes tool offers complete freedom over stroke width, color, and positioning.

Insert a Line Shape

Go to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Shapes' in the Illustrations group, and select the straight Line tool.

Draw the Line

Click and drag across your document where you want the divider to appear. Hold the 'Shift' key while dragging to ensure the line remains perfectly horizontal or vertical.

Open Format Shape Options

Right-click the newly drawn line and select 'Format Shape' from the context menu. This will open the formatting pane on the right side of your screen.

Increase the Line Weight

In the formatting pane under 'Line', locate the 'Width' input box. Type a value greater than 6 pt (for example, 10 pt or 15 pt) and press Enter to instantly apply the thicker weight.

Use the Shapes Tool for Custom Line Weights

Anchoring Tip: To ensure your new thick line moves smoothly with your content, change its text wrapping to 'In Line with Text' or carefully anchor it to the relevant paragraph.

Advanced Document Formatting

Create Custom Thick Lines Easily in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a seamless and highly compatible document editing experience, allowing you to quickly insert, format, and customize shapes without arbitrary limits. It is an excellent, free alternative for all your word processing needs.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document in the WPS Writer application.
2. Insert a Line: Navigate to the Insert tab, click the Shapes drop-down menu, and choose the straight line shape.
3. Customize the Thickness: Select the drawn line, go to the Drawing Tools tab, click Shape Outline, and choose 'More Lines' to enter a custom point size greater than 6pt.

Easily adjust shape outlines to any custom point size.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and legacy files.Free, lightweight, and intuitive user interface with a familiar layout.Rich set of drawing and professional formatting tools built-in.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the standard border limited to 6 points?

The legacy Borders and Shading dialog was designed with standard typographical constraints in mind. It caps paragraph and table borders at 6 points to maintain standard document layouts and prevent borders from overlapping excessively with text.

Can I make a table border thicker than 6 points using Table Design?

No, the built-in table design tools also enforce the 6-point maximum limit. To get a thicker border, you must manually draw shape lines over the existing table borders and set their width to your desired thickness.

Will the thick shape line move with my text when I edit the document?

By default, inserted shapes might float above your text depending on the wrap settings. To make the line move with your text, right-click it, select 'Wrap Text' (or Layout Options), and choose 'In Line with Text'.

Document & File Issues