How to Make a Table On Microsoft Word

A man using his computer at his desk at home. — With a few easy steps, you'll be able to make a table on Microsoft Word, to keep your information organized. Maskot / Getty Images

Tables help you present information in a clear and organized way. There are three ways to add tables to your documents in Microsoft Word, each taking only a few easy steps. These instructions are based on Microsoft Word 2003, but the process is very similar in other versions of Word.

Here's how to make a table from the Tables and Borders toolbar:

Place the cursor where you want to place the table.
Click the Insert Table icon on the Tables and Borders toolbar at the top of the window. [Microsoft]
Drag the corner of the table until you have the desired number of columns and rows.
Click the mouse to insert the table.

Here's how to make a table from the Insert Table dialogue box:

Click on Table from the menu bar. Select Insert, and then Table… A dialogue box will open.
Enter the desired number of rows and columns.
Choose AutoFit behavior if you want the table's cells to automatically expand to fit the text inside them. Choose AutoFormat if you'd rather select a table with a specific format.
Click OK to insert your table.

Here's how to draw a table:

Select Table from the menu bar.
Select Draw Table.
Drag the pencil diagonally across the page to make a rectangle where you want to place your table.
Draw lines vertically and horizontally to create the columns and rows you need.

You can modify your table as follows:

Select your table, or a portion of it.
Right click your mouse. Choose Table Properties. You can also choose Table Properties from the Table menu in the menu bar. [Home & Learn]
Adjust the alignment, as well as the row and column settings. You can also make use of the text wrapping feature. Click OK when you've made the desired changes.

Adjust your table's colors and lines, as follows.

Click the Table tab.
Choose Table Properties.
Click on the Borders and Shading… button. Make the desired selections and click OK, and then click OK again.

Make Table In Microsoft Word FAQ

How do you create a table in Word?

Follow these steps to make a table: (1) Put the cursor where you want to position the table, (2) On the Tables and Borders toolbar, click on the Insert Table icon, (3) Drag the tableâ€™s corner until you have the desired number of rows and column and (4) Insert the table by clicking the mouse.

How do I make a quick table in Word?

To make a table quickly, add one of the most used tables from the Quick Tables gallery.

How do I format multiple tables in Word?

Choose the table with the formatting you want to apply to other tables. Then, under the Table Tools, go to the Design tab. Click on the arrow mark under the group Table Styles and choose New Table Style. In the Properties group, set a name for the style, apply the format changes and then create new tables using the preset.

Can you do conditional formatting in a Word table?

You can use VBA to specify conditional formatting of colors in a word table. Choose Macros from the View tab > View macros. Set the name, create, replace all the content with the following code and hit Save.

How many ways are there to create a table in MS Word?

Microsoft offers five ways to create tables: draw table, insert table, the graphic grid, insert an existing or new spreadsheet table, quick tables and an option for converting existing text into a table.