How to Double Underline in Google Docs

Double underlining text is a common formatting requirement for accounting documents, legal briefs, and academic papers to emphasize final totals or important clauses. While Microsoft Word has a dedicated double-underline button, Google Docs does not currently offer a native tool for it. However, there are a few clever workarounds you can use to achieve the exact same look.

Method 1: The Table Border Trick (Best for Paragraphs)

This is the most professional method for double-underlining a heading or a block of text.

1. In your Google Doc, click Insert > Table > 1×1 to create a single-cell box.
2. Type your text inside the box.
3. Click inside the box, then look at the toolbar at the top of the screen. Click the small downward arrow in the top right corner of the cell to select all borders.
4. Change the Border Width to 0pt to make the box invisible.
5. Now, click on just the bottom line of the invisible box.
6. In the toolbar, change the Border Dash icon from a solid line to the double-line option.

Method 2: The Drawing Tool (Best for Short Phrases)

1. Go to Insert > Drawing > New.
2. In the drawing canvas, click the Text box icon and type your text.
3. Select the Line tool from the toolbar and draw a straight line underneath your text. Hold the Shift key while drawing to ensure the line is perfectly straight.
4. Copy and paste the line, then use your arrow keys to position the second line directly underneath the first one.
5. Click Save and Close. The text and the double underline will be inserted into your document as a single image.

Method 3: The Manual Keyboard Trick

If you are in a rush and just need a quick, dirty solution, type your text on one line. On the line immediately below it, type the underscore symbol (_) repeatedly to match the length of the text. Then, go to a third line and type the underscore symbol again. While this creates two lines, it takes up extra vertical space and may not align perfectly if you change font sizes.