Making a Poster Using Microsoft Word: Step-by-Step

A full guide to using Word to design and print eye-catching posters

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: August 31, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow article teaches you how to create a poster-sized document in Microsoft Word for Windows or macOS.^{[1]
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Research source} Before you get started, make sure your printer is capable of printing larger sizes and that you have the desired paper size. If you can't (or don't want to) print the poster from home, you can send or bring the file to a professional printing service.

Quick Steps

Open a new document in Word.
Click Layout and choose the poster's size.
Add graphical elements, like headings, text, and images, for the poster.
Save your poster on your computer or on a flash drive.
Print it on A4 paper at home or go to a local printing shop, like a FedEx Office location, to get a physical copy of your poster.

Steps

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If you haven't already done so, launch Microsoft Word from the Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (macOS). This opens the app to the "New" page.
It should be the first option in the list of new file types.^{[2]
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The name of the tab will vary by version, but you'll always find one of these options at the top of the app.^{[3]
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It's near the top-left corner of the app. This displays different size options for your document.^{[4]
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Select a size for your poster. Keep in mind that if you're using a home printer, it may not support larger paper sizes. To specify a custom size, click More Paper Sizes at the bottom of the menu and make your selections.^{[5]
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- If you definitely need a larger poster made, you can create the file, save it to a flash drive, and then print it at a professional printing location like FedEx or Staples.
- A common poster size supported by most home printers is 11x17 inches. You can find 11x17 paper anywhere that sells printer paper.
If you want your poster to print in landscape (horizontal) mode, click the Orientation menu on the Page Layout tab and select Landscape. If you're okay with the poster being set up in Portrait (vertical) mode, you can skip this step.
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Create a headline. Many posters have a large text headline at the top. If you'd like to add a headline, follow these steps:
- Click the Insert tab at the top.
- Click Text Box near the top-right corner of Word.
- Select Simple Text Box option to insert a text box.
- Type a few words you want to appear large on the poster.
- Highlight the text in your headline.
- Click the Home tab to return to the font options, and then choose an easy-to-read font at a large size. You can also choose colors if you plan to make a color poster.
- Drag the edges of the text box to the desired size. You can also move the text box to another location by hovering the mouse cursor over one of the lines and then dragging.
- Another way to insert a headline is to click Word Art on the Insert tab and then select a design. This is a quick way to stylize text without having to specify font colors and sizes. Check out How to Create Word Art to learn more about this feature.
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Insert graphics into the poster. If you have a certain photo or illustration you want to include in the poster, you can insert it by clicking the Insert tab and selecting Pictures. If you want the photo to appear below the headline, drag the headline's text box above the photo.
- You can also insert shapes and customize them. To insert a shape, click the Insert tab and select Shapes. You can then choose a shape and use the mouse to draw it at the desired location. You can type on shapes by double-clicking them to activate the cursor.
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Add regular text. To insert text into your poster, add another text box like you did when creating the headline (on the Insert tab), and then type anything you wish. You can then format the text with the desired fonts and orientation back on the Home tab.
- If you want to add text to multiple areas on the poster, put each block of text into its own text box. This makes it easier to format areas of text individually and move them around if necessary.
- To change the orientation of your text, click one of the orientation options in the "Paragraph" section of the Home tab.
- To learn about wrapping text around images, see How to Wrap Text in Word.
- For tips on orientating text, see How to Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word.
To do so, click the File menu at the top-left corner, select Save As, and then save to your desired location.^{[6]
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Print the poster. If you plan to print the poster at home, follow these steps:
- Load the appropriate paper size into your printer. Make sure it matches the paper size you selected for your poster.
- Click the File menu at the top-left corner.
- Click Print.
- Select your printer, color preferences, and other settings.
- Click Print.
- Make sure the correct paper size is selected. If you're printing a poster on multiple sheets of paper, read this wikiHow for more tips and instructions.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I overlap a picture in Microsoft word?

Community Answer

Right-click on the image and click the Options. Press either "send to front" or "send backwards".

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Question

How do I save the poster as a .JPG file?

Community Answer

Go to File, Save As and choose JPG from the drop-down menu under file name. Click JPG, and you're done.

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Question

How do I rotate phrases on my poster?

Community Answer

Left click and hold on the top-right corner (or any corner), then move your mouse.

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