Often when you are working with data that requires a table layout, then a spreadsheet application like Google Sheets is the ideal choice.
But other times your table data might be part of a larger picture that is being presented in a document. Whether that document is for school or work, it’s pretty common to add a table to a variety of document types.
If you are new to Google Docs or simply haven’t had a reason to insert a table into one of your documents before, then you might be uncertain about how to add a table in Google Docs.
Our guide below will show you how to achieve this so that you can display data in a table inside of a document that you are writing or editing.
If you need to put the table on its own page instead of between existing paragraphs, then find out how to add a new page in Google Docs.
How to Create a Table in Google Docs
The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser but will also work in other desktop Web browsers like Firefox or Safari.
Step 1: Sign into your Google Drive and open the document.
Step 2: Click at the point in the document where you want to add the table.
Step 3: Select the Insert tab at the top of the window.
Step 4: Select the Table option, then click on the number of rows and columns that you want to include in the table.
If you drag your mouse over that grid of squares it will highlight them in blue, allowing you to specify the number of rows and columns for the table. You can create an initial table with up to 20 rows and 20 columns with this method, but additional rows and columns can be added later.
If you right click on your existing table you will see a handful of additional formatting options that let you do things like add or delete rows and columns, as well as a Table properties option where you can modify the border and height/width of your cells.
Additional reading
- How to change margins in Google Docs
- How to select all in Google Docs
- How to clear formatting in Google Docs
- How to change a link in Google Docs
- How to make Google Docs landscape
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop and more.