How to Make a Dotted Line in Adobe InDesign

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Use this interactive demo to learn how to create a dotted line in Adobe InDesign.

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Here’s a simple and quick guide on how to make a dotted line in Adobe InDesign:

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To create a dotted line in Adobe InDesign, select the 'Line Tool' from the left toolbar.
Draw a line in the document, then go to the Appearance panel and click 'Stroke' to view the line settings.
When the Stroke panel appears, select 'Dotted' from the available options to change the line style.
You have successfully created a dotted line.

📌 Why this matters

Dotted lines serve as subtle visual separators that guide readers through your layout without overwhelming the design. You'll use them for tear-off coupons, form fields, table of contents leaders, and section breaks in reports or magazines.

Beyond basic separation, dotted lines create implied movement and flow, making them perfect for showing processes, timelines, or connecting related elements across pages. They're also essential for creating professional templates where others need clear indicators for cutting, folding, or filling in information.

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