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You can change the position of a text box (and the text within it), shape, WordArt, or a picture by rotating or flipping it. 

If you're working in email, see Rotate a picture in Outlook.

The Rotation commands are available on the Drawing Tools Format tab of the toolbar ribbon. Select the object you want to rotate, then click the ribbon.

Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.

  1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

  2. Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.

    Shaoe with rotation handles

    • To constrain the rotation to 15-degree increments, press and hold Shift while you drag the rotation handle.

    • When you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group, but instead each shape rotates around its own center.

  1. Click the object you want to rotate.

  2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options.

    More Rotation Options on the Rotate menu

  3. In the pane or dialog box that opens, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box. You can also use the arrows to rotate the object exactly where you want.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, or WordArt. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

  1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

  2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then:

    • To rotate the object 90 degrees to the right, click Rotate Right 90°.

    • To rotate the object 90 degrees to the left, click Rotate Left 90°.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, WordArt or picture. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

You can create the effect of a mirror image or flip an object upside-down (invert it) by using the Flip tools.

  1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

  2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then:

    • To turn an object upside-down, click Flip Vertical.

    • To create a mirror image of the object, click Flip Horizontal.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, WordArt or picture. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

Tip: If you simply want to create a mirror image of text in a document, see Reverse text or create a mirror image.

When you rotate an object, any text within the object will rotate with it. However, text within a flipped object is not automatically flipped with the rotation tool. To reverse text along with the object that contains it, you can do the following in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

  1. Select and then right-click the object you want to reverse, and then click Format Shape.

  2. In the Format Shape pane, under Shape Options, click Effects.

    Effects tab in the Format Shape pane

  3. Under 3-D Rotation, in one of the Rotation boxes (X, Y, or Z, depending on how you want to rotate your text), enter 180.

    X Rotation on the Effects tab

    Notes: 

    • Changing the rotation may affect the fill color of your object. You can adjust your fill color in the Format Shape pane on the Fill & Line Fill & Line tab tab.

    • When you click in the object to edit the text, it will revert back to its original appearance temporarily while you edit it. The reversed appearance will be reapplied when you are done editing text and you click outside of the object.

Reverse text

See the article Reverse or mirror text.

Rotate a table or a SmartArt graphic

Copy the table or SmartArt graphic, paste it as a picture, and then rotate the picture.

See also

Wrap text around a circle or other shape

Crop a picture

Group or ungroup shapes, pictures, or other objects

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