Use the Type tool and select the paragraph you want to indent.
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Set indents
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to control paragraph indentation and create hanging indents in Adobe InDesign.
Indents move text inward from the left or right edge of a text frame. You can set indents using either the Tabs dialog box, the Paragraph panel, or the Control panel.
When working with CJK text, you can use mojikumi settings to control first-line indents. If indents are set both in mojikumi and the Paragraph panel, InDesign combines the values.
Set an indent using the Tabs dialog box
Select Type > Tabs to display the Tabs dialog box.
Drag the top indent marker to indent only the first line of text, or drag the bottom marker to move both markers and indent the entire paragraph.
Tip
You can also select the top marker and type a value for X to indent the first line, or select the bottom marker and type a value for X to indent the entire paragraph.
Set indents using the Paragraph or Control panel
Use the Type tool and select the paragraph you want to indent.
In the Paragraph panel or Control panel, type a value in the Left Indent field to indent the entire paragraph.
To indent only the first line, type a value in the First Line Left Indent field.
Create a hanging indent
Use the Type tool and select the paragraph you want to format.
In the Paragraph panel or Control panel, type a value greater than zero (for example, 2p) in the Left Indent field.
In the First Line Left Indent box, type a negative value (for example, -2p).
Note
For right-to-left text or to add a hanging indent to the right of the last line in a paragraph, use the Right Indent and First Line Right Indent fields.
Reset indents to zero
Select the paragraph you want to reset indents for.
In the Tabs dialog box, select Reset Indents from the panel menu .
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