Where to find the border tool in Canva

Open your design in Canva and look for the Design tab on the left sidebar. Below the search bar, you'll see a row of icons. Click the one that looks like a square with a frame around it — this is the Elements button. From there, search for "border" in the search box at the top of the panel that opens.

Canva shows you border options as pre-made frames you can drag onto your canvas. You can also scroll through the Elements menu without searching and find a "Frames" section that contains border styles. Some borders are free; others require Canva Pro. A small crown icon appears next to paid options.

If you're working with a photo or image already on your canvas, you can also right-click the image itself and select "Add border" from the menu that appears. This method is faster if you know you want a border on that specific element.

Key Takeaways

  • Borders in Canva are found in the Elements tab on the left sidebar, searchable by typing "border" in the search box.
  • You can drag a border frame onto your canvas, or right-click an existing image and select "Add border" for faster placement.
  • Border thickness, color, and style are all adjustable after you place the border on your design.
  • Some borders are free and some require Canva Pro; the crown icon shows which ones cost extra.

Dragging a border onto your canvas

Once you've found a border style you like in the Elements panel, click and drag it onto your canvas. The border will appear as a frame. You can resize it by grabbing the corner handles and dragging outward or inward. To move it, click in the center and drag it to a new position.

If the border is too small or too large for your design, don't delete it and start over — just resize it. Borders scale smoothly in Canva without losing quality. If you want the border to fit a specific element like a photo, drag the photo inside the border frame, or resize the border to match the photo's dimensions.

Changing border color and thickness

Click on the border once it's on your canvas to select it. A toolbar appears above the border with editing options. Look for the color swatch (usually a small square of color) and click it to open the color picker. Choose a new color from the palette, or use the eyedropper tool to match a color from elsewhere in your design.

To change the border's thickness, look for a slider or number field labeled "Stroke" or "Thickness" in the toolbar. Drag the slider to the right to make the border thicker, or to the left to make it thinner. Some border styles don't allow thickness changes — in that case, the option will be grayed out.

Using borders with text and shapes

Borders work on more than just photos. You can place a border around a text box, a shape, or a group of elements. Click the element you want to frame, then right-click and select "Add border." The same color and thickness controls explore.

If you want a border around multiple elements at once, select them all by holding Shift and clicking each one, then right-click and add the border. Canva will create a single border frame around the entire group. This is useful for framing a title and subtitle together, or a photo with a caption.

Removing or replacing a border

Click the border to select it, then press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard. The border disappears, but any elements inside it stay on the canvas. If you want to replace the border with a different style, select it and drag a new border from the Elements panel onto your canvas, then delete the old one.

You can also click the border and look for a "Remove border" option in the toolbar, though deleting it directly is usually faster. If you've customized a border's color and thickness and want to keep those settings, don't delete it — instead, right-click and choose "Duplicate" to copy it elsewhere in your design.

Borders with Canva Pro versus free borders

Canva's free plan includes a selection of basic borders — solid lines, straightforward frames, and a few decorative styles. These cover most common design needs. Canva Pro adds hundreds more options, including textured borders, ornate frames, and borders with built-in shadows or gradients.

You don't need Pro to use borders effectively. The free borders are clean and professional. If you find yourself wanting a specific paid border style repeatedly, that's a sign Pro might be worth trying, but it's not required to add borders to your designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a custom border instead of using Canva's pre-made ones?

Yes. Use the Shapes tool (also in the Elements tab) to draw a rectangle, then remove the fill color and set only the stroke (outline) to the color and thickness you want. This gives you a completely custom border. You can also combine multiple shapes to create a unique frame style.

Why does my border look blurry when I export my design?

This usually happens if the border is very thin and your export resolution is low. Select the border, increase its thickness slightly, and export at a higher resolution (300 DPI for print, 72 DPI for web). Thicker borders also tend to look sharper on screen.

Can I add a border to just one side of an element?

The built-in border tool adds a frame on all four sides. To border only one side, use the Shapes tool to draw a thin rectangle and position it where you want the border to appear. This gives you full control over which sides get a border.

What's the difference between a border and a frame in Canva?

Borders are outlines that go around elements you already have on your canvas. Frames are containers you place content inside. In practice, Canva's Elements tab uses the terms somewhat interchangeably — both are found in the same place and work similarly.