Select the paragraph you want to indent using the Type tool from the tool panel.
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to indent text using the Paragraph and Tabs panels to format paragraphs and create hanging indents.
Indention is the amount of space between text and the boundary of a type object. Indention affects only the selected paragraph or paragraphs. You can set indents using the Tabs panel, the Control panel, or the Paragraph panel. When working with Area Type tool, you can also control indentation by changing the Inset Spacing for the type object.
Note
When working with Japanese type, you can use Mojikumi Settings to set the indent for the first line instead of the Paragraph panel indent options. If both settings are applied, the text is placed inside the total of both indents.
Set indents using the Paragraph panel
Select Window > Type > Paragraph.
In the Paragraph panel, for example, do the following to adjust the appropriate indent values:
- To indent the entire paragraph by one pica, enter 12 pt in the Left indent box.
- To indent the paragraph from the right side by one pica, enter 12 pt in the Right indent box.
- To indent only the first line of a paragraph by one pica, enter 12 pt in the First-line left indent box.
A. Left indent B. Front-line left indent C. Right indent
Set an indent using the Tabs panel
Select the paragraph you want to indent using the Type tool from the tool panel.
Select Window > Type > Tabs.
In the Tabs panel, do one of the following to the indent markers :
- Select and drag the top marker to indent the first line of text. Select and drag the bottom marker to indent all but the first line.
- Ctrl + drag (Windows) or command + drag (macOS) the bottom marker to move both markers and indent the entire paragraph.
- Select the top marker and type a value for X to indent the first line of text. Select the bottom marker and type a value for X to move all but the first sentence.
Create a hanging indent
In a hanging indent, all lines except the first are indented. This format is useful for bulleted lists or adding inline graphics at the start of a paragraph.
Select the paragraph you want to indent using the Type tool from the tool panel.
Select Window > Type > Paragraph.
In the Paragraph panel, enter a value greater than zero in the Left indent box.
Select the first line of the paragraph and then enter a negative value in the First-line left indent box.
Tip
You can also create a hanging indent using the Tabs panel by manually positioning indent markers. To access the Tabs panel, select Window > Type > Tabs.
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