Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word for the web Word 2024 Word 2024 for Mac Word 2021 Word 2021 for Mac Word 2019 Word 2016

You can easily resize pictures, text boxes, shapes, and WordArt in your Office file. You can also remove unwanted portions of a picture by cropping it.

Resize a picture, shape, WordArt, or other object

  1. Select the picture, shape, WordArt, or other object to resize.

  2. To increase or decrease the size in one or more directions, drag a sizing handle away from or toward the center, while doing one of the following:

    • To keep the center in the same place, press and hold Ctrl while you drag the sizing handle.

    • To maintain the proportions, press and hold Shift while you drag the sizing handle.

    • To both maintain the proportions and keep the center in the same place, press and hold both Ctrl and Shift while you drag the sizing handle.

      Shape with sizing handle highlighted

Note: Resizing a WordArt object doesn't resize the text, only the container. If you want to resize the text, select the text and change the font size on the Home tab.

Resize an item to an exact height and width

  1. Select the picture, shape, WordArt, or other object to resize.

    To resize multiple objects at the same time, press and hold Shift while selecting each object.

  2. Select Shape Format, Picture Tools Format, or Drawing Tools Format and enter the new measurements into Height and Width.

    size group

    Notes: 

    • If you don't see Height and Width, press the down arrow in the Size group

    • The Size group is reduced on a smaller screen

If you're not able to change the height and width independently, you'll need to unlock the aspect ratio:

  1. Select the dialog box launcher Icon image in the Size group.

  2. Clear the Lock aspect ratio check box.

Resize to an exact proportion

  1. Select the picture, shape, WordArt, or other object to resize.

    To resize multiple objects at the same time, press and hold Shift while selecting each object.

  2. Go to Shape Format, Picture Tools Format, or Drawing Tools Format, in the Size group, select the dialog box launcher Button image.

    Notes: 

    • If your screen size is smaller, you might need to select the down arrow in the Size group to see the dialog box launcher.

    • The Size group is reduced on a smaller screen

  3. To choose between the original or a different proportion, select or clear Lock aspect ration and enter a Scale percentage for Height or Width.

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