diff --git a/book/src/editor.md b/book/src/editor.md
index 9abeacef3..187d90da4 100644
--- a/book/src/editor.md
+++ b/book/src/editor.md
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ ### `[editor]` Section
 | `true-color` | Set to `true` to override automatic detection of terminal truecolor support in the event of a false negative | `false` |
 | `undercurl` | Set to `true` to override automatic detection of terminal undercurl support in the event of a false negative | `false` |
 | `rulers` | List of column positions at which to display the rulers. Can be overridden by language specific `rulers` in `languages.toml` file | `[]` |
-| `ruler-char` | Specifies the character used to display the rulers. When unset, the rulers will be indicated by a subtle background or style change, depending on the theme in use | `none` |
+| `ruler-style` | `bg` displays the ruler as a background color, while `char` displays the configured `ruler-char` | `bg` |
+| `ruler-char` | Specifies the character used to display the rulers when `ruler-style` is `char` | `│` |
 | `bufferline` | Renders a line at the top of the editor displaying open buffers. Can be `always`, `never` or `multiple` (only shown if more than one buffer is in use) | `never` |
 | `color-modes` | Whether to color the mode indicator with different colors depending on the mode itself | `false` |
 | `text-width` | Maximum line length. Used for the `:reflow` command and soft-wrapping if `soft-wrap.wrap-at-text-width` is set | `80` |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index 44a8b7acc..fb7f502e3 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 use helix_view::{
     annotations::diagnostics::DiagnosticFilter,
     document::{Mode, SavePoint, SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME},
-    editor::{CompleteAction, CursorShapeConfig},
+    editor::{CompleteAction, CursorShapeConfig, RulerStyle},
     graphics::{Color, CursorKind, Modifier, Rect, Style},
     input::{KeyEvent, MouseButton, MouseEvent, MouseEventKind},
     keyboard::{KeyCode, KeyModifiers},
@@ -254,11 +254,12 @@ pub fn render_rulers(
         theme: &Theme,
     ) {
         let editor_rulers = &editor.config().rulers;
-        let editor_ruler_char = editor.config().ruler_char.map(|c| c.to_string());
+        let ruler_style = &editor.config().ruler_style;
+        let ruler_char = editor.config().ruler_char.to_string();
 
-        let theme_key = match &editor_ruler_char {
-            None => "ui.virtual.ruler",
-            Some(_) => "ui.virtual.ruler.char",
+        let theme_key = match ruler_style {
+            RulerStyle::Bg => "ui.virtual.ruler",
+            RulerStyle::Char => "ui.virtual.ruler.char",
         };
 
         let ruler_theme = theme
@@ -280,12 +281,15 @@ pub fn render_rulers(
             .filter(|ruler| ruler < &viewport.width)
             .map(|ruler| viewport.clip_left(ruler).with_width(1))
             .for_each(|area| {
-                if let Some(ruler_char) = &editor_ruler_char {
-                    for y in area.y..area.height {
-                        surface.set_string(area.x, y, ruler_char, ruler_theme)
+                match ruler_style {
+                    RulerStyle::Bg => {
+                        surface.set_style(area, ruler_theme);
+                    }
+                    RulerStyle::Char => {
+                        for y in area.y..area.height {
+                            surface.set_string(area.x, y, &ruler_char, ruler_theme);
+                        }
                     }
-                } else {
-                    surface.set_style(area, ruler_theme)
                 }
             })
     }
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index fe39af965..ce6f79a96 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -314,8 +314,10 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub terminal: Option<TerminalConfig>,
     /// Column numbers at which to draw the rulers. Defaults to `[]`, meaning no rulers.
     pub rulers: Vec<u16>,
-    /// Character used to draw the rulers when specified. If `None`, rulers are drawn using style only.
-    pub ruler_char: Option<char>,
+    /// Set to `bg` to display rulers with background color (default) or `char` to use character from `ruler-char`.
+    pub ruler_style: RulerStyle,
+    /// Character used to draw the rulers when specified
+    pub ruler_char: char,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub whitespace: WhitespaceConfig,
     /// Persistently display open buffers along the top
@@ -638,6 +640,17 @@ fn default() -> Self {
     }
 }
 
+/// ruler render style
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
+pub enum RulerStyle {
+    /// Render rulers with background color
+    #[default]
+    Bg,
+    /// Render rulers with character from `ruler-char`
+    Char,
+}
+
 /// bufferline render modes
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
@@ -965,7 +978,8 @@ fn default() -> Self {
             lsp: LspConfig::default(),
             terminal: get_terminal_provider(),
             rulers: Vec::new(),
-            ruler_char: None,
+            ruler_style: RulerStyle::default(),
+            ruler_char: '│',
             whitespace: WhitespaceConfig::default(),
             bufferline: BufferLine::default(),
             indent_guides: IndentGuidesConfig::default(),