Photoshop :: How Do I Make A Quick Square "border"?

I know this is very basic but I can't find a simple way to do it. How do you draw just a simple thin square or rectangle black outline on a white background?

I have tried:

1) Using the square outline under "custom shape tools" but it makes too thick of an outline.

2) Just drawing the 4 sides with the line tool at 2-3 pixels but that is too hard, trying to get each side the right length and properly oriented to make the square.

3) Using the rectangle tool (and the rectangle marquee tool)
to make one black rectangle, then using it to make a white rectangle inside the black one in order to make the black outline. But that is also too hard - trying to get the inner white rectangle the right size so that all the black borders it creates are the same size.

Can someone please explain how to make a simple thin outline? Seems there ought to be a simple way to draw a square/rectangle, but I can't find it.