How to Add Margins in PowerPoint

Updated on:

May 25, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to set custom text margins inside PowerPoint slides.

Quick summary

PowerPoint does not have a dedicated margin setting, but you can control text padding inside any shape by using the Format Shape panel. This step-by-step demo shows you exactly how to access and adjust those internal text box margins in just a few clicks.

Steps

Click on the text box containing your text to select it.
Right-click the selected shape and choose Format Shape from the context menu.
In the sidebar, click on Text Options to reveal text formatting controls.
Click the Text Box icon in the Text Options panel.
Adjust the Left, Right, Top, and Bottom margins by typing your preferred measurements into the fields.

📌 Why this matters

Controlling text margins in PowerPoint gives presenters precise layout control, ensuring text never appears cramped or misaligned inside shapes and placeholders. PowerPoint lacks a global margin setting, so knowing how to use the Format Shape Text Box options is an essential skill for anyone producing polished, professional slide decks. This interactive demo helps users quickly master internal text padding without trial and error, saving time during slide design and formatting workflows.

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