By default, Microsoft Word uses inches as its unit of measurement in dialog boxes and on the ruler. You can change measurement units to centimeters, picas, points, or millimeters. This post shows you how to change this setting in Word 2016 and earlier.

Inches on Indentation in Paragraph dialog box in Word 2007

Table of Contents

    Change Measurement Units in Word

    To change the default measurement units in Word, click on File and then Options.

    Change Measurement Units in Microsoft Word image 2

    If you are using Word 2010 or earlier, then click the Office button and click the Word Options button at the bottom.

    Selecting Word Options in Word 2007

    The Word Options dialog box displays. Click Advanced in the left pane.

    Selecting Advanced on the Word Options dialog box

    Scroll down to the Display section. Select a unit of measurement from the Show measurements in units of drop-down list. Click OK.

    Changing the measurement units

    Now, the unit of measurement is different, as displayed below in the Indentation section of the Paragraph dialog box.

    Units changed in Word 2007

    Change Measurement Units in Word 2003 and Earlier

    The procedure for changing the units of measurement in Word 2003 and earlier versions is slightly different.

    Inches on Indentation in Paragraph dialog box in Word 2003

    To begin, select Options from the Tools menu.

    Selecting Options from the Tools menu in Word 2003

    Click the General tab and select a unit of measurement from the Measurement units drop-down list. Click OK.

    Changing the Measurement units in Word 2003

    Again, the unit of measurement is different, as displayed below in the Indentation section of the Paragraph dialog box.

    Units changed in Word 2003

    Being able to customize the units of measurement used in Word is useful if you are working on a document that must have custom margins in a specified unit of measurement other than inches. Enjoy!