How to Create and Edit Tables in Google Docs

Tables are a great way to organize and present data in a clean and structured format in your Google Docs documents. Whether you need to display numbers, text, or other information in rows and columns, Google Docs makes it simple to create, edit, and customize tables to meet your needs.

In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for creating, editing, formatting, and customizing tables in Google Docs.

How to Insert a Table

Inserting a basic table in Google Docs is quick and easy:

1. Open the Google Docs document where you want to add a table
2. Place your cursor where you want the table to be inserted
3. Click “Insert” in the top menu bar and select “Table” from the drop-down menu
4. Hover over the grid that appears to choose the number of columns and rows you need, then click to insert the table

The table will instantly appear in your document with the specified number of rows and columns.

Choosing Table Size

When selecting your table size, keep in mind that Google Docs allows tables up to 20 rows by 20 columns. Think about how much data you need to present and choose an appropriately sized table.

You can always add or delete rows and columns later if you realize you need a larger or smaller table.

Adding and Deleting Table Rows and Columns

Once your table is inserted, you may need to adjust its size by adding or removing rows and columns:

Add Rows or Columns

1. Click inside the table and select the row below or column beside where you want to add a new row or column
2. Right click and choose “Insert row below” or “Insert column right” from the menu

Delete Rows or Columns

1. Select the row or column you want to delete by clicking inside any cell
2. Right click and choose “Delete row” or “Delete column”

Deleting the entire table is also simple. Just right click inside the table and select “Delete table”.

Entering and Editing Table Data

Entering data into your table cells is as easy as clicking and typing. Here are some tips:

• Click inside a cell and start typing to enter text, numbers, or other data
• Press Tab on your keyboard to move right to the next cell when you want to enter data in the next column
• Press Shift+Tab to move left to the previous cell
• Click and drag to select multiple cells at once to copy, cut, paste, or delete data

To edit existing data, simply click inside the cell you want to change and make your edits.

Formatting Tables

The beauty of tables in Google Docs is that they can be extensively formatted and customized to create professional, great-looking tables.

Here are some key options for formatting Docs tables:

Change Column Widths

Wider or narrower columns improve readability and structure. Adjust column widths by:

1. Hover over the column border in the header row
2. Click and drag left or right to resize

Add Borders and Shading

1. Select the cells, rows, or columns you want to format
2. Open the “Table options” toolbar
3. Choose a border style, color, and width or a shading color

Align Text

Align cell text left, center, or right by selecting the cells then clicking the alignment buttons in the “Table options” toolbar.

Change Cell Padding

Adjust cell padding (space between text and cell borders) using the “Table properties” options.

Repeat Header Row on Every Page

1. Right click the header row
2. Check the box for “Repeat header row on each page”

This will carry the header row to the top of every page in longer tables.

Conclusion

Whether you need to organize numbers, display text data, or present other information in table format, Google Docs empowers you to easily create, customize, and format tables suited for any purpose.

Use the step-by-step guidance above to begin building professional, polished tables to enhance your Docs content. With a bit of practice, you’ll be a Google Docs tables pro!