How to Add Header and Footer in Google Docs [2026 Guide]

If you often create documents such as reports, assignments, ebooks, or official letters, you may have noticed that many professional documents include information at the top or bottom of every page.

These sections are called headers and footers. They usually contain page numbers, document titles, author names, dates, or company branding.

When I started using Google Docs for writing tutorials and blog drafts for my website, I realized how helpful headers and footers can be for organizing long documents. Instead of manually typing page numbers or titles on every page, Google Docs can automatically add them for you.

In this guide, I will explain how to add header and footer in Google Docs step by step. I will also show you how to customize them, and remove them if needed. By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to easily use headers and footers to create professional documents.

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What Are Headers and Footers in Google Docs?

Before learning the steps, it is important to understand what headers and footers actually are.

A header is the section that appears at the top of every page in a document. A footer is the section that appears at the bottom of every page.

These areas are separate from the main content of the document and usually contain repeated information.

Common things added in headers and footers

Some commonly used items include:

• Page numbers
• Document title
• Author name
• Company or website name
• Chapter name
• Date
• Copyright notice

For example, when I create long tutorials or ebooks, I usually add:

• The article title in the header
• Page numbers and website address in the footer

This makes the document easier to navigate and look more professional.

How to Add Header and Footer in Google Docs

Now let's learn how to add header and footer in Google Docs. The process is very simple and takes less than a minute.

1. Open Google Docs

First, open the Google Docs website.

1. Go to docs.google.com
2. Sign in to your Google account
3. Open an existing document or create a new one

Once your document is open, you can start adding headers and footers.

2. Inserting a Header

At the top of the document, you will see several menu options such as File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Extension, and Help. 

Click the Insert menu and follow the steps I have mentioned below. This menu contains many useful tools, including headers and footers.

• Click on the Insert menu at the top.
• Go to Page elements and click Header.
• A blank header space will appear at the top of your document.

In the screenshot below, you can see that I have added my website address as a Header in Google Docs. Similarly, you can add your website, company name, document title, chapter name, and more.

3. Inserting a Footer

To add a Footer to your Google document, again click on the Insert menu, then, go to Page elements and click Footer. Here are the steps:

• Click on the Insert menu at the top.
• Go to Page elements and click Footer.
• A blank footer space will appear at the bottom of your document.

In the screenshot below, you can see that I have added a Footer in my Google document. In the Footer, I have mentioned copyright with a link to my website and page number.

Footer is the perfect place to add page numbers, dates, copyright or disclaimers.

4. Customizing Headers and Footers

Follow the below mentioned steps to customize your Headers and Footers of your Google Docs.

• Double-click inside the header or footer to edit it.
• Use formatting tools (bold, italic, font size, alignment) just like normal text.
• To make the header/footer different on the first page (like in a cover page), check the box Different first page in the header/footer settings.
• Adjust margins by clicking Options inside the header/footer area.

5. Adding Images or Logos

You can also add your business logo or any other images inside Header or Footer.

• Place your cursor inside the header or footer.
• Go to Insert > Image.
• Upload your logo or select from Google Drive.
• Resize and position it neatly.

This is especially useful for branded documents or eBooks.

How to Remove Header and Footer in Google Docs

Sometimes you may want to delete headers or footers. Here’s how:

• Double-click inside the header or footer area.
• Select the text or image you want to remove and press Delete.
• If you want to remove the entire header/footer space:

Go to Format > Headers & footers > Remove header/footer.

Your document will return to a clean layout without extra sections.

In the above screenshot, you can see that I have double clicked inside the footer section to place my cursor. Next, I will click on the Format menu and go to Header & footers and click on the Remove footer option to remove the footer from my Google document.

Similarly, you can also remove Header from your document.

Advanced Tips for Headers and Footers in Google Docs

Below, I have mentioned some advanced but very useful tips for using Headers and Footers in Google document.

• Section Breaks: Use section breaks to create different headers and footers in different parts of your document.
• Hyperlinks: You can insert clickable links in headers or footers, useful for digital reports.
• Tables in Footers: Add a small table in the footer to organize multiple elements like page numbers and disclaimers.
• Collaboration: Since Google Docs is cloud-based, multiple people can edit headers and footers simultaneously.

👉 Did you know? According to Google Workspace statistics, teams that use structured formatting (including headers and footers) report a 25% faster review process compared to unformatted documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I have different headers and footers on different pages?

Answer. Yes! Google Docs allows you to use section breaks. Insert a section break, then customize the header/footer for that section.

Q2. Can I add both text and images in the header/footer?

Answer. Absolutely. You can mix text, logos, and even tables inside headers and footers.

Q3. How do I make the header smaller?

Answer. Double-click the header, then click Options. Adjust the margin size to reduce the header space.

Wrapping Up

Learning how to add header and footer in Google Docs is a simple but powerful skill that can transform your documents from plain to professional.

Whether you’re a student submitting assignments, a professional preparing reports, or a writer formatting manuscripts, headers and footers help organize and brand your work.

Remember, you can insert them easily through the Insert menu, customize them with text or images, and remove them when not needed.

Now that you know how to insert header and footer in Google Docs, go ahead and try it in your next project—you’ll notice the difference immediately.