How to Add Cells in Word: A Step-by-Step Guide to Table Editing

In a Microsoft Word table, “adding cells” can mean inserting individual cells, an entire row, or an entire column. Choose the smallest structural change that matches the layout you need so existing data does not shift in an unexpected direction.

Insert one or more table cells

1. Click in a cell near where the new space should appear.
2. Open the Table Layout tab or right-click the selected cell.
3. Choose an Insert command.
4. If Word displays an Insert Cells dialog, choose whether existing cells should shift right or down.
5. Select OK and inspect the table structure.

Insert a complete row or column when appropriate

For most conventional tables, adding a whole row above/below or a whole column left/right produces a cleaner structure than shifting only a few cells. Word provides these commands on the Table Layout tab.

Use Tab to add a row at the end

When the cursor is in the final cell of a table, pressing Tab typically creates a new row. This is convenient while entering records sequentially.

Merged cells can complicate insertion

Tables with merged or split cells may not respond as predictably to insert commands. Save the document before restructuring a complex table, and consider splitting or merging cells only after the main rows and columns are in place.

Adding cells is different from changing cell size

If the table simply needs more room for text, adjust column width, row height, cell margins, or AutoFit instead of adding structural cells.

After inserting cells, check borders, shading, alignment, formulas in Word tables, and accessibility. Header rows should remain identifiable, and highly irregular merged-cell layouts can be difficult for screen-reader users to interpret.

To combine cells instead, see merging and centering cells in a Word table.

Related: How to Add a Row to a Table in Word.

Where the Insert Cells options are

Click inside the table, then open the Layout tab that appears next to Table Design. In the Rows & Columns group, you’ll find Insert Above, Insert Below, Insert Left, and Insert Right. Click the small arrow in the corner of that group to open the Insert Cells dialog, which offers four choices:

Option	What happens
Shift cells right	Adds a cell and pushes the rest of that row to the right
Shift cells down	Adds a cell and pushes the rest of that column down
Insert entire row	Adds a full row above the selected cell
Insert entire column	Adds a full column to the left of the selected cell

Shifting single cells can leave a ragged table edge. If that happens, add a full row or column instead, or merge the extra cells.

Use the plus sign for quick rows and columns

In recent versions of Word, move your mouse just outside the table, on the left edge between two rows or along the top between two columns. A plus sign in a circle appears. Click it to add a row or column at that spot. For more on rows, see how to add a row to a table in Word, and for columns, see how to add columns to a table in Word.

Split a cell into more cells

To turn one cell into several, click it, go to Layout > Split Cells, enter the number of columns and rows, and click OK.

Add up the numbers in cells

If you meant adding values rather than adding new cells, Word tables can do simple math:

1. Click the empty cell where you want the total.
2. Go to Layout > Formula.
3. Word usually suggests =SUM(ABOVE) for a column or =SUM(LEFT) for a row. Adjust it if needed and click OK.
4. If you change a number later, select the total and press F9 to update it.

For larger calculations, a spreadsheet like Excel is a better tool.

Frequently asked questions

Why don’t I see the Layout tab?

The table tabs only appear when your cursor is inside a table. Click any cell first.

How do I add a table if I don’t have one yet?

Go to Insert > Table and drag across the grid. Our guide to creating a table in Word walks through it.