To center a table in Google Docs, right-click anywhere in the table and choose Table properties (or click Format > Table > Table properties). In the side panel, open the Table section, set Alignment to Center, and close the panel. The whole table moves to the middle of the page between the margins. To center the text inside the cells, select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + E (Command + Shift + E on a Mac).
This guide covers centering the table on the page, centering text horizontally and vertically in cells, centering a table in a page with columns or when it’s full width, and fixes when the table won’t move.
Center the table on the page
- Click inside the table.
- Right-click and choose Table properties, or go to Format > Table > Table properties.
- Expand Table in the panel.
- Set Alignment to Center.
- Close the panel. Changes apply right away.
If the table already spans the full width of the page, centering won’t appear to change anything. Narrow the table first by dragging its right border or setting smaller column widths in Table properties > Columns.
Center text inside the cells
- Horizontally – select the cells (or the whole table) and click Center align on the toolbar, or press Ctrl + Shift + E.
- Vertically – open Table properties > Cell and set Vertical alignment to Middle.
Center a table using a workaround
If you’re using an older version without the Alignment option, set a Left indent equal to half the leftover space. For example, on a page with a 6.5-inch text area and a 4.5-inch table, set the left indent to 1 inch.
Center a table in a column layout or text box
- Columns – with Format > Columns turned on, Center alignment centers the table within its column.
- Drawing or text box – tables can’t be placed inside drawings, but you can put a table inside a one-cell table and center the outer table.
Center a table on the mobile app
Tap the table, tap the Format (A) icon, choose the Table tab, and look for alignment options. Mobile apps have fewer table settings, so use a computer for precise control.
Troubleshooting
- No Alignment option – update your browser and reload Docs; the Table properties panel was redesigned, and older views may use a dialog with Table alignment instead.
- Table looks off-center – check the page margins in File > Page setup, and make sure the table isn’t indented.
- Text is centered but the table isn’t – text alignment and table alignment are separate settings. Use Table properties for the table.
- Pageless format – in pageless documents, very wide tables may scroll; set a narrower width before centering.
Frequently asked questions
Can I center only one column?
You can center the text in one column by selecting its cells and pressing Ctrl + Shift + E.
Will the table stay centered if I add columns?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t become wider than the page.
Does centering carry over when downloading as Word?
Generally yes; table alignment is preserved in .docx exports.
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.