Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to customize footnote numbering, formatting, and spacing in Adobe InDesign for a consistent presentation.
Footnote numbering and layout settings control how reference numbers appear in the text and how footnotes display within text frames. After you create footnotes, you can use these settings to adjust numbering styles, spacing, positioning, and formatting across the document.
Set footnote numbering
Select the Numbering and Formatting tab.
Select a numbering style for footnotes from the Style drop-down menu.
Enter the starting number for footnotes in the Start At field. Footnote numbering does not continue across documents in a book. Adjust the Start At value in each document as needed.
Select how numbering restarts using the Restart Numbering Every option.
Select where prefixes or suffixes appear using the Show Prefix/Suffix in option.
Enter characters in the Prefix or Suffix fields, if required.
Select OK.
Set footnote formatting
Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
In Footnotes Reference Number in Text, select how the reference number appears from the Position drop-down menu.
Select a Character Style from the drop-down menu to format the reference number. Applying a Character Style overrides the Position setting.
In Footnote Formatting, select a Paragraph Style from the drop-down menu to format footnote text.
Modify the Separator field to control spacing between the footnote number and footnote text. Select the arrowicon next to the field to choose a spacing option if required.
Select OK.
Set footnote spacing options
Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
Select the Layout tab.
In Spacing Options, enter a value in Minimum Space Before First Footnote.
Enter a value in Space Between Footnotes.
Select OK.
Set footnote first baseline options
Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
Select the Layout tab.
In the First Baseline, select an alignment method from the Offset drop-down menu.
Enter a value in the Min field to define the minimum baseline offset.
Select OK.
Set footnote placement options
Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
Select the Layout tab.
Select Place End of Story Footnotes at Bottom of Text.
Select Allow Split Footnotes to allow footnotes to continue across columns or frames.
Select OK.
Set footnote rule above options
Select Type > Document Footnote Options.
Select the Layout tab.
Select the required rule type from the Rule Above drop-down menu.
Select Rule On to display the divider line.
Specify rule thickness using the Weight drop-down menu.
Select a stroke style from the Type drop-down menu.
Select a color from the Color drop-down menu.
Adjust rule opacity using the Tint drop-down menu.
Enter a value in Left Indent to offset the rule from the left edge.
Enter a value in Width to control the rule length.
Enter a value in Offset to adjust spacing between the rule and footnote text.
Select OK.
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