Change Default Font and Spacing in Word

In Word 2007 & 2010 the default fonts have changed from Times New Roman 12 point and Arial 12 point to Cambria 11 point and Calibri 11 point respectively. Here is how you change the default settings:

Changing Default Fonts

  1. On the Ribbon click on the small rectangle in the FONT box.

    Step 1

  2. Change the Font, Font Style, and Size

    Step 2

  3. Click "DEFAULT" in 2007 or "SET AS DEFAULT" in 2010. This will save the changes to all future documents.

Changing Line Spacing

In Word 2010 the default line spacing and paragraph spacing has been increased to improve readability. The default spacing after a line has been increased to 14 points. The default line spacing in Word 2007 and 2010 is multiple at 1.15. Here is how you change your default to single spaced lines with no spacing before or after.

  1. On the Ribbon click on the small rectangle in the PARAGRAPH box.

    Spacing Step 1

  2. Change the Before and After spacing to zero.
  3. Change Line Spacing to single.
  4. Change At: to blank.

    Spacing Step 4

  5. Click "DEFAULT" in 2007 or "SET AS DEFAULT" in 2010. This will save the changes to all future documents.