How to Create a Custom Letterhead in Microsoft Word

How to Use a Word Template to Create a Letterhead

Word has many templates you can choose from to create your letterhead, and it’s best to begin with a new Word document. Although you can apply a template to an existing document through File > Options > Add-Ins > Templates, this tends not to work exactly as you would hope.

Once you have opened Word, click “New,” and then type letter or letterhead into the search box.

Single-clicking on a result will show a larger preview, and you can click “Create” if you like it. Double-clicking will automatically download and apply the template for you.

Benefits of Using a Template Letterhead
Word’s letterhead templates are time-savers since they’re ready-made and only require a few personal touches.

• Most templates are well-designed and look professional.
• There are many options to choose from, ranging from formal to casual.

Drawbacks of Using a Template Letterhead

• If you can’t find a template that matches your needs, you might end up spending as much time editing it as you would creating one from scratch.
• Word’s templates often use text boxes, placeholders, shapes, tables, various fonts, and sizes, which can be tricky to rearrange and format.
• Many templates include extra elements like footers, banners, and random shapes, which might interfere if you only want a letterhead.
• While rare, someone might recognize your letterhead as a Word template, which could impact your credibility.

How to Create a Letterhead From Scratch

Your letterhead will go in the header of the first page. Before designing your content, set up your page correctly.

• Double-click in the header section at the top of page 1.
• In the Header and Footer tab on the ribbon, check “Different First Page” to ensure the letterhead only appears on the first page.

Next, adjust the margins to make use of the full width of the page. With the header still active, drag the horizontal tabs on the ruler to the edges of the page and move the top boundary upwards. If you don’t see the ruler, go to the View tab and check “Ruler.”

Next, decide whether you want to create and format your header using a table or text boxes and shapes.

In this example, I inserted a table with three columns: one for the logo, one for the contact details, and one for the name and position. I then colored the middle and right cells, adjusted the text size and alignment, and customized the table borders. Tables work well if you want to divide your letterhead into sections and don’t mind having rectangular or square outlines.

For this example, I searched Word’s stock images for “wavy” (via Insert > Pictures > Stock Images), and cropped my favorite image to fit well in the header. I then added text using text boxes with different alignments. This method is great if you want a decorative background behind your text, but it might not work well if you need to add another image, like a photo or company logo.

Benefits of Creating Your Own Letterhead

If you’re comfortable with formatting text, tables, and images in Word (and have some patience), creating a letterhead from scratch gives you complete flexibility and control.
It’s a great way to unleash your creativity and design something unique!
Homemade letterheads are also easier to edit since you built them yourself, so you’re familiar with how to make changes.

Drawbacks of Creating Your Own Letterhead

Designing from scratch usually takes more time compared to using a template.
Not everyone enjoys starting with a blank canvas! If you’re not feeling creative, it might be quicker and easier to use a template instead.

How to Save Your Letterhead as a Template

Whether you’ve used a template or created your own, once you’re satisfied with your letterhead, you can save it as a template for future use.

Press F12 to open the Save As dialog box. Give your letterhead an appropriate file name, and select “Word Template” from the Save As Type drop-down menu. Then, click “OK” to save it.

When you’re ready to create a new letter, open Word, click “New,” and go to the “Personal” tab. There, you’ll find all the templates you’ve created and saved.

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