Sunflowers and Lavender

Section Cards & Boxes in Google Docs (Canva-Style Layouts Explained)

Short answer: Canva-style section cards are not special design elements. They’re rectangles with padding, background color, and spacing. In Google Docs, the exact equivalent is a 1×1 table.

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What You’ll Learn

• How to create Canva-style boxes using tables
• The correct padding settings that make layouts look professional
• How to stack section cards cleanly
• When to merge cards vs separate them
• How these cards are reused across planners and worksheets

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First: The Google Docs Magic Rule

If you’re new here, this will make everything else click.

👉 How to Make Google Docs Look Like Canva (Free Explainer)

This explainer breaks down why tables — not text boxes — are the foundation of modern Google Docs layouts.

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Step 1: Insert the Base Section Card

This is the foundation of every Canva-style box.

• Go to Insert → Table → 1×1
• Stretch the table to full page width
• Right-click → Table properties
• Set border width to 0 pt

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Step 2: Padding (This Is the Real Magic)

Padding is what separates amateur layouts from polished ones.

• Right-click the table → Table properties
• Set cell padding to:
• Top/Bottom: 0.18–0.25 in (13–18 pt)
• Left/Right: 0.2–0.3 in (14–22 pt)

If your cards feel cramped or messy, padding is almost always the problem.

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Step 3: Background Color (Less Is More)

Use soft, neutral backgrounds — not harsh color blocks.

• Select the table
• Set a light background color (off-white, beige, pale gray)
• Avoid pure white if the page background is white

Good rule: the card should be visible without shouting.

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Step 4: Typography Inside Section Cards

Every section card should follow a simple hierarchy:

• Header: Serif or strong sans-serif (16–20 pt)
• Body text: Clean sans-serif (11–12 pt)
• Line spacing: 1.2–1.4

Stick to two fonts max. Consistency beats creativity.

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Step 5: Stacking Section Cards Correctly

Each card should feel like its own block.

• Press Enter once below each table
• Do NOT add extra paragraph spacing inside the table
• White space belongs between cards, not inside them

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Common Mistakes That Break Layouts

• Leaving borders turned on
• Using too many colors
• Inconsistent padding between cards
• Mixing too many font styles
• Using paragraph spacing instead of table padding

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Where Section Cards Are Used

Every planner in the Google Docs Magic Hub uses section cards:

• Weekly Focus Planner
• Daily Productivity Tracker
• Monthly Goals Planner
• Kids Daily Checklist

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Perfect For

• Planners and productivity trackers
• Worksheets and printables
• Teacher resources
• Blog downloads and PDFs

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Section Cards & Boxes Layout Template

Want to skip building this from scratch?

I’ve created a free Google Docs template that includes:

• A clean section card and box layout built with tables
• A planner-ready grid layout
• Correct padding, spacing, and border settings
• Fully editable and reusable

Free Download

👉 Click here to open the Google Docs layout template

File → Make a copy to save it to your own Google Drive.

This is the same structure used throughout the Google Docs Magic tutorials, so once you understand this layout, everything else gets easier.

Back to the Google Docs Magic Hub

Return to Google Docs Magic Hub

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FREE

Google Docs Templates

Download free planners, checklists, and trackers built using the exact techniques in this tutorial.

Browse Free Templates

Created with Google Docs • Free for personal use