How to insert a table in a Word document

This article will show you how to insert a table in a Word document. A table is a great way to represent multiple data fields, making the information easier to read. You will learn different options to insert a row or column in a table in Word.

How to insert a table in a Word document

The table you want to insert consists of multiple cells, rows, and columns. The rows represent the data that are displayed horizontally. The columns are the vertically represented data. Every cell interacts with a column and row and looks like small rectangles shown in the table.

If you want to add a table in Word, you can do this in two ways.

Insert a small table in a Word document

• Open your Word document and click on where you want to see the table.
• Click on the Insert tab at the top.
• Click on the Table icon in the ribbon.
• Then select the number of cells, rows, and columns you want the table to display. When you select an area, you will immediately see the table appear in your Word document. Under table > The selected area will have a different color > Look at the 3×6 Table written above > Click once on the selected area.

The table in the example below has six rows and three columns. So the table consists of 18 cells (3 columns x 6 rows). The only disadvantage is that you can’t make huge tables when using this option. The maximum size of the table can be 10 columns x 8 rows. So if you want to make a larger table, you should look at the next option.

How to insert a large table in a Word document

• Open your Word document and place the mouse cursor where you want to see the table.
• Click on the Insert tab at the top.
• Click on the Table icon in the ribbon.
• Now select Insert Table below.
• A new box called Insert Table opens on your Word document.

Now type the number of columns and rows in the box Insert Table. You can also click on the up and down arrows on the right. Let’s say that you want a long table with 12 rows and 5 columns. The example below shows you how to insert the table size. Then click OK, and Word will insert the table automatically.

The only disadvantage of this option is that you can’t see the preview of the table.

Insert a row or column in a table in Word in many options

You can easily insert a row or column to your table in Word. There are a few options you can choose from to add an extra row or column to your table in Word.

Use the blue plus icon

If you know where to add the extra row, you can use this option.

• First, you put your mouse cursor between the two rows on the left side of the table.
• A little blue plus icon comes up.
• Click on the plus icon, and it adds an extra row in between.

You can also use this option to add an extra column to your table in Word.

• First, you have to put your mouse cursor between two columns on top of the table.
• Then the blue plus icon shows up.
• Now, you can click on it, and Word will insert an extra column in between.

Press enter after a row

This option is straightforward, but it is only available to insert an extra row. You can quickly add a row below the current one you have.

• Click with your mouse cursor at the end of a row in your table. In the example shown below, we have put our cursor at the end of the third row.
• Then press Enter on your keyboard.
• You will automatically see the extra row added below the current one.

Right-click on a cell in the table

You can right-click on a cell to add an extra row to your table.

• Right-click on the cell you would like to add a row under or above it. In the example below, we have right-clicked on the cell named Jane.
• Then choose Insert.
• Select one of the following options; Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.
• It will automatically insert an extra row in the table. The example shows the new row inserted above the current one in the table.

You can also right-click on a cell and add an extra column in your table.

• Right-click on the cell you would like to add a column beside. In the picture below, we have right-clicked on the cell named 18.
• Then choose Insert.
• Select one of the following options; Insert Columns to the Left or Insert Columns to the Right.
• It will automatically insert an extra column next to the current one, as shown below.

Open the mini toolbar

The mini toolbar provides quick access to formatting tools. If you have not turned this tool on, you can easily do this in your Word document. First, click on File > Choose Options > The Word Options box will open, as shown below.

In Word Options box:

• Click on General on the left list
• Then tick on Show Mini Toolbar on selection.
• Lastly, click OK.

You have to right-click anywhere in the row, select the cell, or select the entire row to use this option. Let’s say that you want to add a row under the second one in your table. Then you can right-click anywhere in the highlighted row, as shown in the below picture.

• Right-click on the cell you would like to add a row. You can also select the cell or entire row in the table. In the example below, we have right-clicked on the cell named Doe.
• The mini toolbar will appear.
• Now click the icon Insert.
• Then select Insert Above or Insert Below.
• It will automatically add an extra row to your table. The picture below shows the new row inserted below the highlighted row.

This option can also help you add an extra column to your table quickly. You can right-click anywhere in the column, select the cell, or select the entire column to use this option.

• Right-click on any cell in the column. In the example below, we have selected the entire column.
• The mini toolbar will appear.
• Now click the icon Insert.
• Then select Insert Left or Insert Right.
• It will automatically add an extra column to your table. The example below shows the new column on the right side of the selected column.

Use the Table Tools

If you click on any cell in your table, a new tab called Table Tools appears at the top of your Word document.

To add an extra row to your table, do the following steps.

• First, you have to click on any cell in the row.
• Click on the tab Layout under Table Tools.
• Then go to the Rows and Columns group.
• There you can select either Insert Above or Insert Below.
• It will add an extra row to your table.

To add an extra column to your table, do the following steps.

If you want to add an extra column on your table’s left side, you can click on any cell in the first column.

• First, you have to click on a cell in your table.
• Click on the tab Layout under Table Tools.
• Then go to the Rows and Columns group.
• There you can select either Insert Left or Insert Right.
• It will add an extra column to your table.

Read more: How to delete a row from a table in Word »

Conclusion

Well done! Now you can insert a table in a Word document in many different ways. You have managed to insert a row in a table in Word. It is easy to add an extra row or column to a table.