Change Ruler Units in Word for Mac (cm to Inches)
Microsoft Word for Mac allows you to display document measurements in centimetres or inches. These measurement units affect the Word ruler, margins, tab settings, and other layout tools. If your document appears in the wrong unit system, you can quickly change the setting in Word Preferences.
This tutorial demonstrates how to switch the ruler from centimetres to inches, or from inches back to centimetres.
If you are using Microsoft Word for Windows, see the tutorial Change Measurement Units in Word for Windows.
Watch the Tutorial
Why Measurement Units Matter
Measurement units determine how Word displays distances and layout settings in a document. These units appear on the ruler, and they are also used when setting margins, tab stops, and paragraph indentation.
Depending on your location or the type of document you are preparing, you may prefer to work in centimetres or inches. For example, many academic and business documents in the United States use inches, while many other regions, like Canada, use centimetres.
Step 1: Display the Ruler
Before changing the measurement units, it is helpful to display the ruler so you can see the current settings.
Go to the View tab and enable the Ruler option. The ruler will appear along the top of the document and will display the current measurement units.
Step 2: Open Word Preferences
To change the measurement units in Word for Mac, click Word in the menu bar next to the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. Then select Preferences.
This opens the Word Preferences window, where you can adjust various application settings.
Step 3: Change the Measurement Units
Inside the Preferences window, click General. Look for the setting labeled Show measurement in units of.
Use the dropdown menu to change the units from centimetres to inches, or from inches to centimetres, depending on your preference.
Confirm the Change
After closing the Preferences window, look at the ruler again. The measurement units will now display in the format you selected.
This change affects the way measurements appear throughout Microsoft Word, including margins, tab stops, and layout settings.
Key Takeaway
If the ruler in Microsoft Word for Mac is showing the wrong units, you can change the setting in Word Preferences → General. Switching between centimetres and inches allows you to work with measurements that match your document requirements.