Custom DOCX Templates (Word Styles That Matter)

The fastest way to make your converted document look “official” is to use a Word template. Templates don’t just change fonts — they define the styles Word uses for headings, lists, spacing, and tables.

md2docx can use either a built-in sample template or a .docx template you upload on the Convert page.

If you’re converting content for stakeholders, clients, or internal approvals, templates are the difference between “this looks like a draft” and “this looks like a deliverable”.

When should you use a template?

You can convert without a template and still get a clean DOCX. But a template is worth the effort when any of the following are true:

• You need consistent fonts, margins, and spacing across many documents.
• Your organization has a house style for headings and lists.
• You want tables to look “report-ready” without manual formatting.
• You print documents or export PDFs and need reliable page layout.

A good workflow is: convert once with a template, tweak the template until it looks right, then reuse it for every conversion.

How md2docx maps Markdown to Word styles

When you convert Markdown, md2docx maps elements to standard Word styles. The most important ones to configure in your template are:

• Heading 1–6 → Markdown headings # through ######
• Normal → paragraphs
• Quote (or similar) → blockquotes/callouts
• Table styles → Markdown tables

The key idea: your Markdown controls the structure; your template controls the look. If you want a consistent appearance, you should edit the styles in the template, not manually format paragraphs after conversion.

Recommended template checklist

1. Start with a clean Word document (or duplicate one of the built-in templates from Templates).
2. Update the font family and body size via the Normal style.
3. Update heading styles (Heading 1–3 are the most visible): spacing before/after, font weight, and numbering if your org uses it.
4. Set page margins and default paragraph spacing (this is what makes a DOCX feel “professional”).
5. Define a table style that looks good on light backgrounds and prints cleanly.
6. Save as .docx and upload it in the converter.

Tip: If you’re starting from a document that contains macros (.docm) or is saved as a template file (.dotx), export a clean .docx version for use with md2docx.

How to create a template quickly (practical workflow)

The easiest way to build a “real” template is to start from a Word document your organization already considers acceptable (for example an internal report or a client deliverable), then strip the content while keeping the styles.

1. Open a document that matches the look you want.
2. Save a copy as a new file (so you don’t ruin the original).
3. Select all body content and delete it (leave headers/footers if you want them).
4. In Word’s Styles pane, verify Normal and Heading 1–3 look right.
5. Save as .docx and upload it to /convert.

After one conversion, you’ll immediately see what needs adjustment: heading spacing, table borders, list indentation, and any default fonts that didn’t carry over.

Common pitfalls

1) Headings look right, but the TOC is wrong

A Word table of contents depends on heading styles. If you customize headings, keep them as Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. Don’t replace them with custom names unless you also configure TOC behavior in Word.

2) Lists look inconsistent

If your org uses specific list indentation and numbering, define list styles in the template. Word’s default list behavior can vary between environments.

3) Tables feel cramped or wrap badly

Wide tables are hard in portrait orientation. If tables are a priority, consider a template designed for landscape sections, and use section breaks as needed (see advanced conversion options).

4) “My cover page disappeared”

Uploaded templates are used primarily for styling (fonts, spacing, headings, table appearance). If you need a dedicated cover page, start from a sample template designed for that purpose or add a cover page in Word after conversion.

Template QA: a quick test that catches 90% of issues

Before you rely on a template for important documents, run a small “style audit” conversion using a short Markdown file that includes the elements you care about:

• H1 title, H2 section, H3 subsection.
• A bullet list and a numbered list.
• A table with 3–4 columns.
• A blockquote/callout.

Convert it, then check: (1) headings are readable, (2) spacing looks intentional, (3) tables don’t look cramped, and (4) lists align cleanly.

Branding tips that work well in Word

• Use subtle typography changes (font size, weight, spacing) instead of heavy colors. It prints better and looks more “enterprise”.
• Configure header/footer text and page numbers in the template so every conversion looks consistent.
• Avoid extremely tight margins if your docs will be annotated; reviewers need whitespace for comments.

Once your template is stable, you can keep iterating on content in Markdown without reformatting the Word output manually.

Quick start

1. Open the converter.
2. Upload your .docx template under “Optional: Upload a DOCX template”.
3. Paste Markdown (or upload .md) and convert.

If you also want a clean heading structure and a working TOC, pair templates with the guidance in Headings and Table of Contents.