How to Add a Row to a Table in Word (Windows, Mac, Web and Mobile)

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The fastest way to add a row to the end of a table in Word is to click in the last cell of the bottom row and press Tab. Word creates a new, empty row below and puts your cursor in its first cell.

To add a row somewhere in the middle, click a cell next to where you want the new row, open the Table Layout tab and select Insert Above or Insert Below. You can also right-click a row and choose Insert then Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.

Quick Answer

  1. To add a row at the bottom, click in the last cell of the last row and press Tab.
  2. To add a row anywhere else, click a cell in the row above or below the spot you want.
  3. Open the Table Layout tab (called Layout in some older versions).
  4. Select Insert Above or Insert Below in the Rows and Columns group.
  5. To add several rows at once, first select that many existing rows, then insert.

In This Guide

Before You Start

These steps follow Microsoft Support documentation as of September 2026. The Windows steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019 and Word 2016. Separate sections cover Word for Mac, Word for the web and the Word mobile apps.

A few terms you will see:

  • Row: a horizontal line of cells that runs across the table.
  • Table Layout tab: a contextual ribbon tab, which means it only appears while your cursor is inside a table. In newer versions it is labeled Table Layout. In some older versions it is simply Layout, and it sits next to the Table Design tab. Don’t confuse it with the main Layout tab that controls margins and page size.
  • Insert control: a small plus sign that can appear at the edge of a table when you point at it with a mouse.

You need edit access to the document. If the file opened in Protected View or read-only mode, select Enable Editing first. If you haven’t built the table yet, our guide to editing a table in Word covers the basics.

Method 1: Press Tab in the Last Cell

This is the quickest way to grow a table while you type, and it works the same way in Word on Windows and Mac.

  1. Click inside the last cell of the last row (the bottom-right cell of the table).
  2. Press the Tab key. Expected result: A new empty row appears at the bottom of the table and the cursor jumps to its first cell.
  3. Type your text. Press Tab to move to the next cell. When you reach the last cell again, press Tab once more if you need another row.

Pressing Tab in any other cell only moves the cursor to the next cell. It adds a row only when you are in the very last cell of the table.

Method 2: Use Insert Above or Insert Below

Use this method when the new row belongs in the middle of the table, or above the first row.

  1. Click a cell in the row directly above or directly below where you want the new row.
  2. Select the Table Layout tab on the ribbon. If you don’t see it, make sure your cursor is inside the table. Expected result: You see the Rows and Columns group with Insert Above, Insert Below, Insert Left and Insert Right.
  3. Select Insert Above to add a row above the current cell, or Insert Below to add a row below it. Expected result: A new row appears in that position. It usually picks up the formatting of the row you clicked in.
  4. Click inside the new row and type your content.

The same group has Insert Left and Insert Right for adding columns. For more on individual cells, see our guide on how to add cells in Word.

Method 3: Right-Click and Choose Insert

Microsoft documents this shortcut menu for Word for Microsoft 365, Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac and Word for the web.

  1. Right-click a cell in the row next to where you want the new one.
  2. Point to or select Insert.
  3. Choose Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below. Expected result: A new row appears above or below the row you right-clicked.

Depending on your version, right-clicking may also show a small floating toolbar with an Insert button. It gives you the same row options.

Method 4: Click the Plus Sign Insert Control

On Windows, Word can show a small plus sign, called the insert control, when you move the mouse just outside the left edge of the table between two rows. Clicking it adds a row at that spot. Community answers on Microsoft Q&A note a few conditions, so treat these as tips rather than guarantees:

  • It works with a mouse or touchpad pointer, not with touch.
  • It shows up in Print Layout and Web Layout views.
  • If it never appears, check File then Options then Advanced for a setting such as Show pop-up buttons for adding rows and columns in tables. Labels can vary by version.
  1. Switch to Print Layout view on the View tab if needed.
  2. Move the pointer slowly along the left edge of the table, just outside the border, until a plus sign appears between two rows.
  3. Click the plus sign. Expected result: A new row is inserted between those two rows.

Add Several Rows at Once

Word adds as many rows as you have selected. Microsoft’s instructions are to select as many rows as you want to add before you use the insert command.

  1. Drag across cells in three existing rows (for example) to select them. The rows don’t need to be empty.
  2. On the Table Layout tab, select Insert Above or Insert Below. You can also right-click the selection and use Insert. Expected result: Three new empty rows appear above or below the selection. Your existing rows stay unchanged.

For long lists, it can be faster to insert rows in batches: select five rows, insert five, then select ten and insert ten.

Insert Cells or a Whole Row With the Insert Cells Options

The Rows and Columns group has a small arrow (a dialog box launcher) in its bottom corner. It opens options that are handy when you only need extra room in part of a table.

  1. Click the cell where you want to make space.
  2. On the Table Layout tab, select the small arrow at the bottom corner of the Rows and Columns group.
  3. Choose one option and select OK:
    • Shift cells right: inserts a cell and pushes the rest of the row to the right.
    • Shift cells down: inserts a cell and pushes cells in that column down.
    • Insert entire row: adds a full row above the cell you clicked.
    • Insert entire column: adds a full column to the left.

Shifting single cells can leave a table with uneven edges. If you just need another row, Insert entire row or Insert Below is cleaner.

Word for Mac

Microsoft’s Mac instructions apply to Word 2021 and Word 2019 for Mac, and the right-click method is documented for Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac.

  1. Click in the table where you want to add the row.
  2. Select the Table Layout tab.
  3. Select Insert Above or Insert Below. Expected result: A new row appears above or below your cursor.

Other options on a Mac:

  • Click the last cell of the last row and press Tab to add a row at the end.
  • Right-click (or Control-click) a row, choose Insert, then Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.
  • Select several rows first to add the same number of new rows.

Word for the Web

Word for the web, the free browser version at office.com, supports two approaches.

  1. Right-click a cell in the row next to the spot you want.
  2. Select Insert, then Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below. Expected result: The new row appears right away.

Microsoft also added a hover plus sign to Word for the web, rolling out generally starting in September 2024. Position the pointer over the edge of the table where you need a new row, and a plus icon appears next to the row where the insertion will happen. Click it to insert the row. Pressing Tab in the last cell also typically adds a row in the browser.

Word on iPhone, iPad and Android

The Word mobile apps use a Table tab instead of the desktop ribbon.

  1. Open the document and tap the edit icon if the app opened it in view mode.
  2. Tap inside the table, in the row next to where you want the new one.
  3. On the Table tab, tap Insert. On a phone, the tabs may be in a menu at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Choose to insert a row above or below. Expected result: The new row appears above or below the row with your cursor.

Shortcut: tap the selection block on the left side of a row, then tap the plus sign that appears.

Which Method Should You Use?

Situation Best method Why
You are typing and reach the end of the table Tab in the last cell No need to leave the keyboard
You need one row in the middle Insert Above or Insert Below, or right-click Insert Exact placement
You need many rows Select that many rows, then insert One step instead of many
You use a mouse on Windows or Word for the web Plus sign insert control One click at the exact spot
You only need one extra cell Insert Cells options (Shift cells down) Leaves the rest of the table alone
You are on a phone or tablet Table tab, then Insert Designed for touch

Troubleshooting

The Table Layout tab is missing

The tab only appears when the cursor is inside a table. Click any cell and look again. In older versions the tab is named Layout and sits right after Table Design. If the ribbon is collapsed, double-click any tab name to expand it.

Pressing Tab moved the cursor but didn’t add a row

You were not in the very last cell. Click the bottom-right cell and press Tab again. If that cell is part of a merged cell, try the Insert Below button instead.

The new row landed in the wrong place

Press Ctrl+Z (Command+Z on a Mac) to undo it. Then click a cell in the correct neighboring row and choose Insert Above or Insert Below based on where that row sits.

The plus sign never appears

The insert control needs a mouse pointer and Print Layout or Web Layout view. If you use touch, use the right-click menu or the ribbon. Also check the Advanced options setting mentioned in Method 4.

The new row has different formatting

New rows usually copy the formatting of the row you started from. If shading or borders don’t match, select the new row and apply the same style from the Table Design tab.

The table now runs off the page or onto the next page

A taller table can push content to the next page. That is normal. If columns look squeezed, try the AutoFit options on the Table Layout tab or read how to make all columns the same width in Word.

Insert commands are grayed out

The document may be read-only, protected or opened in view mode. Select Enable Editing or open an editable copy. On shared files, check that you have edit permission.

Related: How to insert sequential numbers in a Word table.

Related: How to clear cells in a Word table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the keyboard shortcut to add a row in a Word table?

Press Tab in the last cell of the table to add a row at the end. For rows elsewhere, use the Table Layout tab or the right-click Insert menu.

How do I add a row above the first row, such as a header row?

Click any cell in the first row, then select Insert Above on the Table Layout tab. The new row becomes the top row.

Can I add several rows at once?

Yes. Select the same number of existing rows as the number you want to add, then choose Insert Above or Insert Below.

How do I delete a row I added by mistake?

Press Ctrl+Z right away. Or click in the row, open the Table Layout tab, select Delete and choose the option to delete rows.

Why can’t I see the Insert Above button?

Your cursor must be inside the table for the Table Layout tab to appear. On a narrow window, the ribbon may shrink the group into a single Rows and Columns button; click it to see the options.

Does this work in Word for the web and on my phone?

Yes. In Word for the web, right-click and choose Insert, or use the hover plus sign. In the mobile apps, tap in the table, open the Table tab and tap Insert.

Summary

  1. Press Tab in the last cell to add a row at the end of a table.
  2. Use Table Layout, then Insert Above or Insert Below, to add a row anywhere.
  3. Right-click a row and choose Insert for the same options from a menu.
  4. Select several rows first to insert that many rows at once.
  5. On Mac, web and mobile, look for the Table Layout or Table tab, the right-click menu or the plus sign.

Next step: Open your document, click in the last cell of your table and press Tab to add your first new row. For more detail, see Microsoft’s guide to adding a cell, row or column to a table in Word, the right-click Insert steps, the Mac instructions and the mobile app steps.

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