How to Curve Text in PowerPoint

Curve text in PowerPoint Using WordArt Transform Options

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated January 14, 2026

Applies to: Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® 2019, 2021, 2024 and 365 (Windows)

You can curve text in PowerPoint using WordArt Transform options on the Shape tab in the Ribbon. The text can be WordArt text or text in a text box or in a placeholder. Using Transform text effects, you can curve or bend selected text. The text can be curved around a circle or other shape if you want. Typically, curved text is inserted in Normal View and can be a word or a line of text.

Insert WordArt text (option 1)
Insert a text box (option 2)
Insert text in a placeholder (option 3)
Curve text using Transform options
Modify curved text
Curve text around a circle
Final thoughts

Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. Screenshots in this article are from 365 but are similar in other versions of PowerPoint.

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Insert WordArt text (option 1)

One option is to insert WordArt text and then curve the text.

To insert WordArt text on a PowerPoint slide:

In Normal View, select or display the slide where you want to insert WordArt.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Text group, click WordArt. A drop-down menu appears.
Click the WordArt style you want to use. WordArt text in inserted on the slide. Curved text can modified later.
If necessary, click the WordArt object.
Type the text you want.

In the Word Art gallery (pictured below), you can select the WordArt style you want:

Insert a text box (option 2)

A second option is to insert a text box and then curve the text.

To insert a text box on a PowerPoint slide:

In Normal View, select or display the slide where you want to insert the text box.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Text group, click Text Box.
Drag the pointer on the slide to create a text box.
If necessary, click in the text box.
Type the text you want.

Text Box appears on the Insert tab in the Ribbon as follows:

Insert text in a placeholder (option 3)

A third option is to insert text in a placeholder. Placeholders appear as part of layouts.

To insert text in a placeholder on a PowerPoint slide:

In Normal View, select or display the slide with a text or content placeholder where you want to insert text. The layout applied to the slide (through the Home tab in the Ribbon) must include a text or content placeholder (such as Title or Title and Content).
Click in the placeholder.
Type the text you want.

The Layout drop-down menu below appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon and includes multiple layouts available in the current presentation:

Curve text using Transform options

Regardless of the way you insert text, you can curve the text using WordArt Transform options.

To curve text on a PowerPoint slide:

In Normal View, click the text you want to curve. For text boxes or text placeholders, click its edge.
Click the Shape Format tab in the Ribbon.
In the WordArt Styles group, click Text Effects. A drop-down menu appears.
Select the curved style you want.

The WordArt Transform gallery below includes multiple curved text options:

In the examples below, several different curved transform styles have been applied to the text:

Modify curved text

After you have transformed the text, you can modify it in several ways.

To resize the curved text object:

Select the curved text.
Drag any of the circular sizing handles to resize the text object or change the curve.

To change the font, size or font color using the Home tab in the Ribbon:

Click or drag over the curved text.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Select the desired font, size or font color in the Font group.

To change spacing between letters using the Font dialog box:

Select the text.
Right-click the text and select Font from the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
Click the Character Spacing tab.
Click the up arrow beside By to increase the spacing between the letters. Click the down arrow beside By to decrease the spacing between letters.
Click OK.

To change text effects using WordArt options:

Select the text.
Click the Shape tab in the Ribbon.
In the WordArt styles group, select options from Text Fill, Text Outline or Text Effects.

Curve text around a circle

To curve text around a circle on a PowerPoint slide:

In Normal View, click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Illustrations group, click Shapes.
Click the oval.
Hold down Shift and drag on the slide to create a circle.
Click the text you want to curve around the circle. For text boxes or text placeholders, click its edge.
Click the Shape Format tab in the Ribbon.
In the WordArt Styles group, click Text Effects. A drop-down menu appears.
Select Circle under Follow Path.
Drag the text object to position it around the circle.
Drag any of the circular sizing handles to resize the text object and move the handles closer to the circle.
Change the font size and character spacing as needed.

In the following example, WordArt has been curved around a circle, the handles have been dragged closer to the circle and the character spacing has been adjusted:

Final thoughts

You can curve WordArt or text in a text box or placeholder in PowerPoint. You can control the angle of your WordArt text in relation to your shape using the Rotate tool.

Keep in mind that people may not be able to read curved text so it is typically used sparingly for design elements not for a lot of text in a presentation.

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