You want your Word document to use 1.5 line spacing for better readability without wasting too much vertical space. Word provides several built-in methods to apply 1.5 spacing, including a one-click button in the ribbon, a keyboard shortcut, and a deeper setting in the Paragraph dialog. This article shows you all three ways to set 1.5 line spacing in Word for Windows and Mac, and explains when to use each method.
Key Takeaways: Three Ways to Apply 1.5 Line Spacing
- Home tab > Line and Paragraph Spacing button > 1.5: Fastest method for applying 1.5 spacing to selected text or the entire document.
- Ctrl+5 (Windows) or Command+5 (Mac): Keyboard shortcut that sets 1.5 line spacing without opening any menu.
- Home tab > Paragraph dialog launcher > Indents and Spacing tab > Line spacing: 1.5 lines: Gives you control over spacing before and after paragraphs, plus the exact line spacing value.
What 1.5 Line Spacing Is and When to Use It
Line spacing refers to the vertical distance between lines of text in a paragraph. Word measures line spacing in multiples of the font size. Single spacing (1.0) places lines close together. Double spacing (2.0) leaves a full blank line between each text line. 1.5 spacing sits between single and double spacing.
Many academic institutions, corporate style guides, and government agencies require 1.5 line spacing for drafts, reports, and manuscripts. The spacing makes text easier to read and leaves room for handwritten edits. Word applies 1.5 spacing per paragraph, not per document. You can set it for one paragraph, a selection, or the entire document.
Before you begin, open the document in Word for Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac. All three methods work in Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, and Word for Microsoft 365.
Method 1: Using the Ribbon Button on the Home Tab
This is the fastest visual method. The Line and Paragraph Spacing button is located in the Paragraph group on the Home tab.
- Select the text
Highlight the paragraphs you want to change. To apply spacing to the entire document, press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all text. - Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the icon that shows four horizontal lines with blue arrows pointing up and down. A dropdown menu opens. - Choose 1.5
In the dropdown menu, click the number 1.5. Word immediately applies 1.5 line spacing to the selected paragraphs.
If the dropdown menu does not show 1.5, click Line Spacing Options at the bottom of the menu and set the value manually using Method 3 below.
Method 2: Using the Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl+5 or Command+5
The keyboard shortcut is the fastest method when you want to keep your hands on the keyboard. It works for selected text or for the paragraph where the cursor is currently located.
- Place the cursor or select text
Click anywhere in a single paragraph to apply 1.5 spacing to only that paragraph. To apply to multiple paragraphs, highlight them. - Press Ctrl+5 (Windows) or Command+5 (Mac)
Hold the Ctrl key (or Command key on Mac) and press the number 5 on the top row of your keyboard. Do not use the number pad 5 if your keyboard has one. Word applies 1.5 line spacing immediately.
The shortcut toggles between single spacing and the last used spacing value in some Word versions. If pressing Ctrl+5 does not produce 1.5 spacing, verify that no other program or keyboard layout is intercepting the shortcut. You can also reset the shortcut by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize next to Keyboard shortcuts.
Method 3: Using the Paragraph Dialog for Exact Control
Use the Paragraph dialog when you need to set line spacing to an exact value like 1.5 and also adjust spacing before or after paragraphs. This method works the same on Windows and Mac.
- Open the Paragraph dialog
On the Home tab, click the small diagonal arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group. Alternatively, right-click the selected text and choose Paragraph. - Set line spacing to 1.5 lines
In the Paragraph dialog, on the Indents and Spacing tab, locate the Spacing section. In the Line spacing dropdown, select 1.5 lines. The At field is grayed out because 1.5 lines is a preset value. - Adjust paragraph spacing (optional)
In the same Spacing section, set Before and After values in points. For typical 1.5 spacing, set both to 0 pt or 6 pt. Click OK to apply.
The Paragraph dialog also lets you set line spacing to Exactly or Multiple. If you select Multiple, enter 1.5 in the At box for the same result as 1.5 lines.
How to Set 1.5 Spacing as the Default for All New Documents
If you write many documents that require 1.5 line spacing, change the default template so every new document starts with 1.5 spacing.
- Open the Paragraph dialog
On the Home tab, click the Paragraph dialog launcher. - Set 1.5 line spacing
In the Line spacing dropdown, choose 1.5 lines. Adjust Before and After spacing as desired. - Click Set As Default
At the bottom of the dialog, click the Set As Default button. A prompt asks whether you want to change the default for only this document or for all documents based on the Normal template. Select All documents based on the Normal.dotm template and click OK.
After this change, every new document you create in Word will use 1.5 line spacing. Existing documents are not affected.
Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid
1.5 spacing does not appear consistent across paragraphs
This usually happens when some paragraphs have extra spacing before or after. Go to Home > Paragraph dialog and check the Before and After values. Set them to 0 pt for all paragraphs to make spacing uniform.
The ribbon button shows 1.0 even after applying 1.5
The Line and Paragraph Spacing button shows the current spacing value of the paragraph where the cursor is located. If the cursor is in a paragraph with different spacing, the button displays that value. Select the paragraph with 1.5 spacing to see the correct icon.
Ctrl+5 applies double spacing instead of 1.5
In some Word configurations, the Ctrl+5 shortcut cycles through spacing presets. Press Ctrl+2 first to set double spacing, then press Ctrl+5 to return to 1.5. Alternatively, use the ribbon method to set the exact value.
| Method | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Home tab > Line Spacing button > 1.5 | Fast | Applying spacing to selected text without memorizing shortcuts |
| Ctrl+5 (Windows) or Command+5 (Mac) | Fastest | Keyboard-only users who need instant spacing changes |
| Paragraph dialog > Line spacing: 1.5 lines | Moderate | Setting exact spacing along with paragraph indentation and spacing before/after |
You can now apply 1.5 line spacing in Word using three different methods: the ribbon button, the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+5 or Command+5, and the Paragraph dialog. For documents that always need 1.5 spacing, set it as the default in the Normal template. If you frequently work with academic or business documents, also explore the Line Spacing Options in the Paragraph dialog to set Exact line spacing values for precise control over document layout.