Two-Column Layout in LaTeX (multicol & twocolumn)
For a two-column LaTeX layout, use the twocolumn class option for the whole document or the multicol package for balanced columns in part of a page.
For a two-column layout in LaTeX, use the twocolumn class option to set the whole document in two columns, or the multicol package to create balanced columns for part of a page. Conference papers use twocolumn (via classes like IEEEtran); reference lists, glossaries, and indexes use multicol. Here's how to use each and how to span content across columns.
1. Whole-document two columns
\documentclass[twocolumn, 11pt]{article}
Every page is now two columns. This is what IEEE and ACM templates set internally. Columns aren't balanced on the final page, which is expected for papers.
2. Columns for part of a page with multicol
\usepackage{multicol}
...
\begin{multicols}{2}
Lots of text that flows down the first column and
continues at the top of the second, balanced automatically.
\end{multicols}
multicol works mid-page, supports three or more columns (\begin{multicols}{3}), and balances heights. Ideal for a glossary inside a single-column document.
3. Spanning both columns
In a two-column layout, use starred floats for full-width content:
\begin{figure*}[t]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{wide.png}
\caption{Spans both columns.}
\end{figure*}
figure* and table* float to the top of a page and span the full text width — see the images guide.
4. twocolumn vs multicol
| | twocolumn option | multicol package |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Whole document | Any block on a page |
| Columns | Exactly 2 | 2 or more |
| Balances last page | No | Yes |
| Spanning floats | figure* | Exit environment |
| Best for | Conference papers | Glossaries, indexes |
5. Tuning the gap
Adjust the space and rule between columns:
\setlength{\columnsep}{20pt}
\setlength{\columnseprule}{0.4pt} % a dividing line
Keep oversized equations and images out of multicols, since they can't be split. For full page geometry, see LaTeX Margins with geometry.
→ Preview your column layout live as you edit in LetX.
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs, maker of LetX.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the twocolumn option and the multicol package?
The twocolumn document-class option sets the entire document in two columns and is what conference templates like IEEEtran use; columns are not balanced on the last page. The multicol package gives you a multicols environment you can start and stop anywhere on a page, supports more than two columns, and balances column heights automatically. Use twocolumn for a whole paper and multicol for a column block within an otherwise single-column document, like a glossary or index.
How do I make a figure span both columns in a two-column layout?
Use the starred float environments figure* and table*. A figure* floats to the top of a page and spans the full text width across both columns, while a plain figure stays within one column. This is the standard way to place a wide diagram or a large results table in a two-column paper. Note that starred floats can only go to the top or a dedicated float page, not the bottom.
Why are my multicol columns uneven or breaking badly?
multicol balances columns by default, but a single oversized object — a large equation, image, or table — can't be split and forces an imbalance. Keep wide objects out of the multicols environment, or temporarily end and restart it around them. You can also tweak \columnsep for the gap and \columnseprule for a dividing line, and add \raggedcolumns if you prefer columns filled top-down rather than balanced.