To adjust a table’s column width in Google Docs, hover over the border between two columns until the pointer turns into a double arrow, then drag left or right. For an exact width, right-click inside the column, choose Table properties, open Columns, check Column width, and type a size in inches. If you mean page columns, like a newsletter layout, go to Format > Columns > More options to change the number of columns and the spacing between them.
Below are the steps for both kinds of columns, how to make all columns the same width, and why some widths won’t change.
Change table column width by dragging
- Open the document and find the table.
- Hover over the vertical border between two columns. The pointer changes to a double-headed arrow.
- Click and drag the border left or right.
- Release when the column is the width you want.
Dragging an inside border makes one column wider and its neighbor narrower. Dragging the table’s outer edge changes the width of the last column.
Set an exact table column width
- Click in the column you want to change. To change several, select cells across those columns.
- Right-click and choose Table properties, or use Format > Table > Table properties.
- Open the Columns section.
- Check Column width and enter a value in inches (or centimeters, depending on your settings).
- Click OK or close the panel.
Make all table columns the same width
- Select the whole table by dragging across all its cells.
- Right-click and choose Distribute columns.
Every column becomes equal width within the table’s current total width. Distribute rows in the same menu does the same for row heights.
Change page column width and spacing
Page columns split the text of the page into side-by-side columns, like a newspaper.
- Select the text you want in columns, or click anywhere to apply columns to the section.
- Click Format > Columns > More options.
- Choose the Number of columns.
- Set the Spacing between columns in inches. More spacing makes each column narrower.
- Check Line between columns if you want a divider, and click Apply.
Google Docs makes page columns equal width. To get columns of different widths, use a borderless two-column table instead and set each column’s width in Table properties.
Make a table fit the page
If a table runs past the margins, select it, right-click and choose Table properties, then reduce column widths until the total fits. A standard page with 1-inch margins has 6.5 inches of usable width. You can also change the page orientation to landscape in File > Page setup.
Why a column won’t change width
- Long words or URLs: A long unbroken string can keep a column from getting narrower.
- Images in cells: Resize the image first, then the column.
- Merged cells: Unmerge cells that span the column, adjust, then merge again.
- Pageless format: In pageless documents, tables can stretch across the window. Set exact widths in Table properties to control them.
Table vs page columns
| Table columns | Page columns | |
|---|---|---|
| Change width by dragging | Yes | No |
| Exact width | Table properties | Only through spacing |
| Different widths | Yes | No, always equal |
| Best for | Data, layouts, forms | Newsletters, flyers, brochures |
Related: adjust column width in Google Sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change column width in the Google Docs mobile app?
You can drag table borders in the app on some devices, but exact sizes and page column options are easiest on a computer.
Can I copy column widths from one table to another?
Not directly. Note the widths in Table properties and enter the same values for the other table.
How do I set column width in centimeters?
Google Docs shows measurements in inches or centimeters depending on your account’s language and region. If you see inches, convert: 1 inch is 2.54 cm, so a 5 cm column is about 1.97 inches.
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.