
Tab stops in Google Docs can help you to create spaced text consistently. You can add more tab spaces and whenever you press the tab, it will move to the next tab stop. Instead of adding many spaces manually, you can use the tab stops to maintain consistency throughout your Google Docs document.
To add tab stops in Google Docs, Right click on the ruler –> choose the Add left tab-stop/Add Center tab-stop/Add right tab-stop options based on your requirement.
Table Of Contents
Tab stops in Google Docs
Use tab stops in Google Docs to create a steady-spaced text. If you want properly aligned text, the tab in Google Docs can help you. Tab stops in Google Docs are of three types.
- Left tab stops
- Right tab stops
- Center tab stops
There is a tab stop present at every 0.5 inches by default. But you can add a tab stop based on your requirement.
How to add tab stops in Google Docs
You can add three types of tab stops in Google Docs.
Well, before that, another important point is, that to use tab stops in Google Docs, you must enable the ruler option in your Google Docs document.
Make sure you are able to see the ruler option on the top of your document.

If you are not able to see the ruler option, then check out How to show ruler on Google Docs to enable the ruler option.
Setting tab stops in Google Docs becomes easy once, you enable the show ruler option.
Now, To add the tab stops, follow the below instructions.
If you press the tab, you will notice the cursor will move 0.5 inches toward the right and that is the Default setting.
- Locate the place on the ruler where you wish to add the tab stops on your Google Docs document.
- Right-click on the ruler –> you will see three options, Add left tab-stop, Add Center tab-stop and, Add right tab-stop.

- To add the left tab-stop option in Google Docs, click on the Add left tab-stop option.
- To add the center tab-stop option in Google Docs, click on the Add center tab-stop option.
- To add the right tab-stop option in Google Docs, click on the Add right tab-stop option.
Once, you will click the respective options, for the left tab stop, you will see a blue colored arrow pointing towards the right, For the center tab-stop option, you will find a blue colored diamond icon, and similarly, for the right tab-stop option, A blue colored arrow pointing towards the left side will get added on the top of the ruler.

Read: How To Do A Hanging Indent On Google Docs?
How to edit tab stops in Google Docs
Once, you add the tab stops, you might want to edit it.
Say, you want to move the tab stops to a different location, then simply click the blue indicator and drag it to the new location, while dragging, you can able to see a blue line with the measurement.

How to remove tab stops in Google Docs
If you don’t want to keep the tab stops anymore and want to delete tab stops in Google Docs, then the below instructions can help you.
- Click and hold the blue indicator and drag towards down the ruler.

Frequently Asked Questions
How many spaces is a tab in Google Docs
4 spaces by default or it is 0.5 inches. But you can change it and set the number of spaces based on your requirement by adding the left-tab stop on the ruler.
You may also like following the below articles
- How to create labels in Google Docs
- How to bold in Google Docs
- How to delete a document in Google Docs
- How to add table of contents in Google docs
- How to create a Google Docs questionnaire- Step-by-Step
- Change Margins in Google Docs
Voila, how easy to add/edit/remove tab stops in Google Docs using the above instructions. Thanks a lot for reading this article !!!