How To Add Line Numbers In Google Docs (Easy Guide)

To add line numbers in Google Docs, open your document and go to ‘Tools’ in the menu bar. Select ‘Line Numbers, then click ‘Show Line Numbers’. Choose ‘Add line numbering’. Adjust the settings if needed. Once done, you’ll see line numbers on the left side of your document.

If you’re a fan of using Google Docs, you may have noticed that there’s no built-in way to add line numbers to your document. Thankfully, there are workarounds that you can use to add line numbers to your Google Docs document. Let’s see two different ways to add line numbers in Google Docs.

Adding Line Numbers Using the Built-In Feature

Google Docs offers a built-in feature for this purpose, streamlining the process and ensuring consistent numbering throughout your work. Let’s delve into how you can utilize this feature effectively.

Step 1: Navigate to the Menu Bar

On the top of your Google Docs interface, click on ‘Tools’.

Step 2: Click “Line Numbers”

From the drop-down menu, select ‘Line Numbers’ and then click on ‘Show Line Numbers’. This will prompt a new set of options.

Step 3: Enable Line Numbering

Tick on ‘Show Line Numbers’. This will automatically start numbering your lines.

Step 4: Adjust Settings If Needed

Depending on your preference, you can adjust the settings. For instance, you can decide the starting number or the interval between numbers.

Once you’ve made your choices, you’ll see line numbers appear on the left side of your document, making it easier to reference specific lines.

Adding Line Numbers Using the Built-In Feature

This is an easy way to add line numbers in your google document if you are working on a new document. Note that this only works when you start with a new document and not when trying to add line numbers to an existing document. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Select All Text 

Highlight the entire content of your document or the specific sections where you want to add line numbers.

Step 2: Go to the Bullet Option

From the options, select a numbered list. This will automatically number each line or paragraph, depending on how your content is formatted.

Step 3: Adjust If Needed

If the numbers don’t align with the lines correctly, you may need to adjust your content’s spacing or use soft returns (Shift + Enter) to ensure each line gets a number.

Remember, while the bullet feature can serve as a workaround for adding line numbers, it’s best suited for content where each line or paragraph stands as a unique point. For more traditional line numbering, especially for lengthy documents, the built-in feature is more appropriate.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Google Docs provides versatile options for adding line numbers, catering to various user preferences and document types. As you continue working with Google Docs, remember to explore these tools and tailor them to best fit your needs, ensuring your content remains both professional and user-friendly.