How to Center Align Text in Notion (3 Methods)

Notion has become a go-to tool for many, from students to professionals, thanks to its flexibility and all-in-one approach.

However, one of the most common formatting requests is the ability to center text. While Notion doesn’t offer a simple button for this, there are several effective workarounds.

In this article, we’ll explore these methods in detail, discussing their pros, cons, and best use cases.

Why Center Alignment Matters in Notion

Before we get into the “how,” let’s consider the “why.” Why do we center text anyway?

• Aesthetics and Polish: Centered text can add a touch of professionalism and visual appeal to your Notion pages. It can help break the monotony of left-aligned text, making your content more engaging.
• Emphasis and Focus: Centering can draw attention to key elements like titles, headings, and important quotes. It helps them stand out and grab the reader’s attention.
• Visual Hierarchy: By using a mix of left-aligned and centered text, you can create a visual hierarchy that guides the reader’s eye and makes your content easier to navigate.

3 Methods: How to Center Align Text in Notion

Let’s explore the different ways to center text in Notion, going into more detail about each.

1. The Spacebar Method: Quick and Easy, But Limited

This is the most straightforward method, ideal for those who want a quick fix.

• How it works: You simply place the cursor at the beginning of your text and repeatedly hit the spacebar until the text appears centered.
• Best Use Cases: This method is best for short headings, single words, or brief phrases where you want to add a touch of visual balance.

Step-by-Step: Center Aligning Text in Notion Using Spacebar Method

1. Start by creating a heading block using the /heading command, and choose the heading size you want (Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3).
2. Position your cursor at the start of the text within the heading block. Then, start pressing the spacebar.
3. Keep adding spaces until the text appears centered to your eye. You might need to add or remove spaces to fine-tune it.

Pros

• Incredibly easy and quick to implement.
• No special blocks or code required.

Cons

• The number of spaces needed to center text can vary depending on the screen size and device. What looks centered on your screen might be off-center on another.
• The text is only visually centered, meaning it’s not algorithmically centered.
• This method is impractical if you want to center a paragraph or multiple lines of text.

2. The Equation Block Method: Precise and Versatile

The equation block method, while seemingly complex, provides a precise way to center text. It leverages the power of LaTeX, a typesetting system often used for mathematical equations.

• How it works: You use the \text{} command within the equation block to wrap your text. This command allows you to center text and customize its size.
• Best Use Cases: This method is ideal for headings, key phrases, or any text that needs to be reliably centered across all devices.

Step-by-Step: Center Aligning Text in Notion Using The Equation Block Method

1. Add a Block Equation: You can do this in two ways:
   • Click the “+” icon to the left of a new line and select “Block Equation.”
   • Type /equation and choose “Block Equation” from the options.

2. Enter the LaTeX Code: Inside the equation block, type the following code: \text{Your text here}. Replace “Your text here” with your actual text.

3. Adjust Text Size (Optional): You can adjust the text size by adding commands before the \text{} command. Here are some size options:
   • \tiny: Very small text (e.g., \tiny{\text{Your text here}})
   • \small: Small text (e.g., \small{\text{Your text here}})
   • \normalsize: Normal text (e.g., \normalsize{\text{Your text here}})
   • \large: Large text (e.g., \large{\text{Your text here}})
   • \LARGE: Larger text (e.g., \LARGE{\text{Your text here}})
   • \huge: Huge text (e.g., \huge{\text{Your text here}})
   • \Huge: Very huge text (e.g., \Huge{\text{Your text here}})
4. Hit Enter: Press the Enter key to apply the changes.

Pros

• The text is algorithmically centered, ensuring consistent alignment across different devices and screen sizes.
• You can use LaTeX commands to change the text size, and even the font style (though this is more advanced).
• Unlike the spacebar method, you can use the equation block to center longer sentences or even paragraphs.

Cons

• While the basic command is simple, mastering more advanced LaTeX commands can take time.
• The text in the equation block is rendered with a different font than the default Notion font.

3. The Column Method: A Visual Trick

This method uses Notion’s column layout to create the illusion of centered text.

• How it works: You divide your page into three columns, placing your text in the middle column and leaving the outer columns empty.
• Best Use Cases: This method is suitable when you want to center multiple lines of text or even multiple blocks at once.

Step-by-Step: Center Aligning Text in Notion Using The Column Method

1. Start by typing /column and select the “3 columns” option.

2. Put the text you want to center in the middle column.
3. Drag the dividers between the columns to adjust the width of the central column, making the text appear centered.

Pros

• Responsive Across Devices: The column method is more responsive than the spacebar method, and it will adjust to different screen sizes.
• Retains Notion’s Default Styling: You can use Notion’s default fonts and formatting options without issues.

Cons

• Not Perfectly Centered: Depending on the screen size, the text might not be perfectly aligned in the center.
• Can be Cumbersome: If you need to center text on multiple lines, it can be cumbersome to create columns for each one.

How to Center Text in a Notion Database

Centering text in a Notion database is a bit different. You can’t directly center text in a database column, but you can use a formula property to achieve a similar result.

• How it works: You create a formula property and add a formula that uses spaces to push the text to the center.
• Best Use Cases: This is the best method when you want to center text within a specific database column.

Step-by-Step: Centering Text in a Notion Database

1. In your database, add a new property and set its type to “Formula.”
2. Click on “Edit” next to “Formula” under the “Type” section.
3. Type the following formula: "\t " + prop("Your Property Name")
   • Replace "Your Property Name" with the name of the property you want to center.
   • If you directly want to add text to the formula, you can do that as well. The formula will change to "\n\t Your text goes here".

4. Adjust the width of the column to make the text look centered.

Pros

• Applies to the entire column.
• Works with database text.

Cons

• Requires formula knowledge
• Not always perfectly centered

Justification and Highlighting Text in Notion

It’s also worth noting that, as of now, Notion doesn’t offer a way to justify text. However, you can easily add background color to the text using the following steps:

1. Click and drag your mouse over the text you want to highlight.
2. Once the text is selected, a small menu will appear above it.
3. In the text options menu, you’ll see an “A” icon with a color swatch next to it. This is the color option.

4. Click the “A” icon. A dropdown menu will appear with various color options. Choose the background color you want by clicking on it. Note that there are also options for changing the color of the text itself here.

Conclusion: Center Text in Notion

While Notion may not have a direct “center align” button, these workarounds provide effective solutions for centering text. Whether you prefer the quickness of the spacebar method, the precision of the equation block, or the responsiveness of the column method, you can achieve the desired look for your Notion pages.

Hopefully, Notion will continue to add new features and make text formatting more intuitive in the future. Until then, feel free to use these methods to enhance the visual appeal of your documents!