How to do hanging indent on google docs

"Trying to format your references or citations just right, but Google Docs isn't playing nice?
Whether you're working on an academic paper or a professional report, mastering the hanging indent can save you time and polish your presentation. This quick guide will show you two easy ways to create hanging indents in Google Docs — one with the menu, and one using the ruler for more visual control."

🛠 Method 1: Format Menu (Precise and Click-by-Click)

If you prefer a more structured way to set your hanging indent, follow these steps:

1. Select the text you want to format.
2. Click “Format” in the top toolbar.
3. Hover over “Align & indent”, then click “Indentation options.”
4. In the pop-up window, go to the “Special indent” dropdown and choose “Hanging.”
5. Enter the indent depth (usually 0.5 inches is standard for citations) and click “Apply.”

✅ This method is great when you're working with multiple paragraphs or want consistent spacing without manual dragging.

🪝 Method 2: Use the Ruler (More Visual)

Want a bit more hands-on control? Google Docs also lets you adjust indents directly using the ruler.

1. First, make sure the ruler is visible: click “View” > “Show ruler.”
2. Look for the blue markers on the ruler at the top of your doc.
3. The top triangle controls the first line indent — drag it to the right to create the "hanging" effect (the rest of the paragraph stays put).
4. The bottom triangle (and the rectangle beneath) adjusts the indent for the entire paragraph — useful if you want to tweak positioning overall.

🎯 Pro Tip: Drag slowly and watch your text change in real time — it’s an easy way to fine-tune the look.

🔄 Also using Google Slides?

Need to set a hanging indent in Google Slides instead?
👉 Click here for the step-by-step guide.