How to Wrap Text Around an Image or Shape in Microsoft Word

When designing a newsletter, a professional report, or a flyer in Microsoft Word, inserting an image often disrupts the entire layout of your document. By default, Word treats newly inserted pictures as if they were giant, single letters of text. This forces a massive gap between your paragraphs and leaves excessive white space on the page, making your document look amateurish.

To create a polished, magazine-style layout where your paragraphs flow naturally around your graphics, you need to change how the text interacts with the image. This is achieved using the Text Wrapping feature.

Understanding Text Wrapping Options

Before changing your layout, it is helpful to understand the different wrapping styles Microsoft Word offers. When you select an image, these are the most common options available:

• In Line with Text: The default setting. The image sits on the same line as your text, acting like a very large word.
• Square: The text flows in a square box around the borders of your image, regardless of the image’s actual shape.
• Tight: The text hugs the actual edges of the image itself, which is particularly useful for graphics with transparent backgrounds or circular shapes.
• Through: Similar to Tight, but the text can also flow into transparent gaps within the image itself.
• Top and Bottom: The text stays above and below the image, preventing any words from sitting on the left or right sides.
• Behind Text: The image acts as a background watermark, with the text typing directly over it.
• In Front of Text: The image obscures the text beneath it completely.

How to Wrap Text Around an Image

Changing the wrapping style takes only a few clicks and immediately transforms the look of your document.

Step 1: Insert Your Image

If you haven’t already, add your picture to the document.

1. Click the Insert tab on the ribbon at the top of the screen.
2. Click Pictures and select the image from your computer.

Step 2: Apply the Text Wrap

Once the image is on the page, you can adjust its relationship with the surrounding paragraphs.

1. Click directly on the image to select it. You will see small resizing handles appear around its edges.
2. Look for a small layout icon that appears floating near the top right corner of the image. It looks like an arc over several horizontal lines. Click this Layout Options button.
3. A small menu will appear displaying the different text wrapping styles. Click on the Square or Tight icon under the “With Text Wrapping” section.

Alternatively, you can access these options from the ribbon. With the image selected, click the Picture Format tab at the top of the window, click Wrap Text, and choose your preferred style from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Position the Image

Now that the text is no longer treating the image like a giant letter, you have complete freedom to move the picture wherever you want.

1. Click and hold the left mouse button on the centre of the image.
2. Drag the image to your desired location within the paragraph. You will see the text dynamically shift and wrap around the image as you move it.
3. Release the mouse button to drop the image into place.

How to Adjust the Wrapping Boundary

Sometimes, the “Tight” setting doesn’t look quite right, and you need the text to be closer or further away from the graphic.

With the image selected, go to the Picture Format tab, click Wrap Text, and select Edit Wrap Points. A red outline with small black squares will appear around your image. You can click and drag these black squares to manually draw the exact boundary where the text is allowed to flow, giving you absolute precision over your layout.