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In Outlook for Windows or Mac, line spacing is changed from the Paragraph dialog in the message editor. You can apply single, 1.5-line, double, exact, minimum, or multiple spacing to selected paragraphs.
The procedure is different in Outlook.com and Outlook on the web: Microsoft currently documents font formatting there, but not a line-spacing control for the email body. Also, Outlook’s Use Tighter Spacing command changes the interface and message-list layout—not the spacing between lines in your message.
Change line spacing in Outlook for Windows
- Open a new email, reply, or forwarded message.
- Select the paragraph or paragraphs whose line spacing you want to change. To select the whole message body, click inside it and press Ctrl+A once the body has focus.
- On the ribbon, select Home.
- In the Paragraph group, select the small Dialog Box Launcher—the arrow in the lower-right corner of the group.
- In the Paragraph dialog, open the Indents and Spacing tab.
- Under Spacing, open Line spacing and choose the required option.
- Select OK.
This Word-based editor is used by classic Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2024, Outlook 2021, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2016 on Windows.
Change line spacing in Outlook for Mac
- Open or compose the email.
- Select the paragraph or paragraphs to format.
- From the macOS menu bar, select Format > Paragraph.
- Open the Indents and Spacing tab.
- Under Spacing, choose a value from Line spacing.
- Select OK.
Choose the right line-spacing option
| Option | What it does | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Uses single line spacing. | Compact, conventional emails. |
| 1.5 lines | Adds half a line of space compared with single spacing. | Improving readability without making the message very loose. |
| Double | Uses double line spacing. | Drafts, review copies, or accessibility needs. |
| At least | Sets a minimum spacing large enough for the biggest font or graphic on a line. | Messages containing larger text or inline graphics. |
| Exactly | Uses a fixed spacing measured in points. | Precise layouts. A value that is too small can cause text or graphics to overlap. |
| Multiple | Uses a numeric multiplier. For example, 1.15 increases single spacing by 15%, while 3 produces triple spacing. | Custom spacing that does not match the preset choices. |
Fix extra space between paragraphs
Line spacing and paragraph spacing are separate settings. If each line looks normal but there is a large gap after every paragraph, changing Line spacing to Single may not solve the problem.
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- Select the affected paragraphs.
- Open Home > Paragraph > Dialog Box Launcher on Windows, or Format > Paragraph on Mac.
- In Indents and Spacing, check the Before and After values under Spacing.
- Reduce those values if necessary. If the unwanted gap is between paragraphs using the same style, select Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style, where that option is available.
- Select OK.
Before adds space before a paragraph, while After adds space after it. These values can make an email appear double-spaced even when its line-spacing setting is Single.
Why the spacing did not change
You did not select the whole message
Paragraph formatting applies to the selected paragraphs. If no text is selected, Outlook applies the setting at the insertion point or to the paragraph containing it; it does not automatically reformat every paragraph in the email. Select the complete body before opening the Paragraph dialog if you want one setting throughout the message.
You changed Outlook’s interface density
In classic Outlook, View > Use Tighter Spacing changes padding in the message list, task list, and around the To, Cc, Bcc, and Subject lines. It does not single-space the body of an email.
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In Outlook.com, View > Density offers Roomy, Cozy, and Compact views. That setting affects spacing between messages in the mailbox, not the lines inside an email.
You are using Outlook.com or Outlook on the web
Microsoft’s current Outlook.com instructions provide font-size and appearance controls in the compose pane, but do not document a Line spacing or Paragraph control for the message body. The path Settings > Mail > Layout controls mailbox layout, not email paragraph formatting.
If you need precise line spacing, compose the message in classic Outlook for Windows or Mac, where the Paragraph dialog is available. Pasting formatted text from Word may preserve some formatting, but it is not a reliable substitute for a line-spacing control in the web editor.
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Can you set a permanent default line spacing in Outlook?
Microsoft documents a default line-spacing procedure for Word’s Normal template: Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options > Spacing > Line spacing, then Set as Default > All documents based on the Normal template > OK.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThat is a Word setting, not a documented Outlook.com compose setting. It should not be treated as a guaranteed global default for every Outlook message. For dependable results in an individual email, select the message text and set its spacing through the Paragraph dialog.
Quick reference
| Outlook version | Where to change body line spacing |
|---|---|
| Classic Outlook for Windows | Home > Paragraph > Dialog Box Launcher > Indents and Spacing |
| Classic Outlook for Mac | Format > Paragraph > Indents and Spacing |
| Outlook.com / Outlook on the web | No documented body line-spacing control in the current compose tools. |
| Outlook mailbox display | View > Density or Settings > Mail > Layout; these do not change email-body line spacing. |
For Microsoft’s detailed paragraph-formatting definitions, see Microsoft’s guide to adjusting indents and spacing. For Outlook display density, see Microsoft’s guide to changing the look of the Outlook mailbox.
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FAQ
How do I single-space an email in Outlook?
In classic Outlook, select the email text, open Home > Paragraph > Dialog Box Launcher on Windows or Format > Paragraph on Mac, choose Single under Line spacing, and select OK.
Why does my Outlook email still have large gaps after I select Single?
The gaps may come from paragraph spacing rather than line spacing. In the Paragraph dialog, check the Before and After values and reduce them. You can also use Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style when appropriate.
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No. View > Use Tighter Spacing changes Outlook’s interface padding, including the message list and some header areas. It does not change line spacing in the body text.
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Can I change line spacing in Outlook.com?
Microsoft’s current Outlook.com compose documentation does not provide a body-text line-spacing or Paragraph control. Outlook.com’s density and layout settings affect the mailbox interface, not the lines in an email.
Does line-spacing formatting apply to the entire email automatically?
No. It applies to the selected paragraphs. Select the complete message body first if you want the same spacing throughout the email.
The Bottom Line
Use the message editor’s Paragraph dialog—not Outlook’s density controls—to change line spacing. On Windows, go to Home > Paragraph > Dialog Box Launcher; on Mac, use Format > Paragraph. Select the text first, and check paragraph Before and After spacing if the problem is a gap between paragraphs rather than extra space between lines.
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