The line numbers feature in Google Docs automatically calculates and displays the line position for a chosen portion of a document. The calculated line numbers show next to each line where the feature is turned on.
- Improve readability and navigation: Line numbers make it easier for users to reference specific lines in their documents, specifically for long or complex documents.
- Enhance collaboration: To provide a clear and consistent way to reference specific lines in a document, line numbers help multiple users to collaborate on a document.
Important: This feature isn’t available in documents that are in pageless format. If your document includes line numbers and you switch it to a pageless format, you won't see the line numbers . To use line numbers, make sure your document is in pages format.
Show line numbers in a document
- To show line numbers in a document, users with edit access can accept suggestions.
- To find line numbers, click Tools
Line numbers.
- In the line numbers sidebar, select Show line numbers.
- By default, line numbers show and increase throughout the entire document.
Restart line numbers for new pages or sections
- You can restart line numbers for each page or section in a document.
- To restart line numbers, click Tools
- Select an option:
- Continue throughout the document
- Restart on each page
- Restart on each section
- Select where to apply to:
- Entire document
- This section
Show line numbers per section
- Users can show or hide line numbers for specific portions of a document.
- If the document doesn't have a section, the option "This section" under "Apply to" will be disabled.
- To create sections, insert a section break:
- Click Insert
- Click Insert
- From the line numbers sidebar, under “Apply to,” select Show line numbers and This section.
Tip: To show section breaks, click View 
Related resources
View document outlines, summaries, rulers, & non-printing characters