To add a column to a table in Google Docs, right-click any cell next to where you want the new column and choose Insert column left or Insert column right. You can also click a cell and use Format > Table > Insert column left or right. In the Google Docs app, tap a cell, tap the three-dot More menu, and choose Insert column left or right.
Here are the details for each device, plus how to add several columns at once, resize them evenly, and delete columns.
How to add a column on a computer
- Click a cell in the column next to where you want the new one.
- Right-click and choose Insert column left or Insert column right.
Or use the menu: click a cell, then Format > Table > Insert column left or Insert column right. In some versions of Docs, hovering over the top edge of the table shows small handles or a + button for adding columns quickly.
How to add several columns at once
- Select cells across as many columns as you want to add. For example, select cells in 2 columns to add 2 columns.
- Right-click and choose Insert 2 columns left or Insert 2 columns right.
How to add a column on iPhone, iPad, or Android
- Open the document in the Google Docs app and tap the pencil icon to edit.
- Tap a cell in the table.
- Tap the three-dot More icon at the top, or the Format (A) icon, then Table.
- Tap Insert column left or Insert column right.
Make the columns fit
- Even widths: Select the whole table, right-click, and choose Distribute columns.
- Custom widths: Drag a column border, or right-click and open Table properties > Columns to set an exact width.
- Table too wide: New columns squeeze the existing ones. Reduce the font size, or switch the page to landscape in File > Page setup. See how to make a table fit on one page in Google Docs.
How to delete a column
Right-click a cell in the column and choose Delete column. To delete the whole table, choose Delete table.
Frequently asked questions
How many columns can a Google Docs table have?
Up to 20 columns when you insert a table from the grid, and you can add more afterward, but wide tables get cramped on a standard page.
Can I add up the numbers in a column?
Google Docs tables don’t have formulas. See how to sum a column in a Google Docs table for workarounds, or use Google Sheets.
How do I add a row instead?
Right-click a cell and choose Insert row above or Insert row below. Pressing Tab in the last cell also adds a new row.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.