Word doesn’t have Excel’s single Merge & Center button, but you can get the same result in a table in two clicks: select the cells, choose Merge Cells on the Table Layout tab, then click Align Center in the Alignment group. The merged cell’s text ends up centered both across and up and down.
Quick Answer
Select the cells > Table Layout > Merge Cells > Align Center. Or right-click the selection and choose Merge Cells, then press Ctrl + E to center the text horizontally.
Steps to Merge and Center in a Word Table
- Drag across the cells you want to combine, such as the top row of a table.
- Open the Table Layout tab (Layout under Table Tools in older versions).
- Click Merge Cells in the Merge group. Text from each cell is kept, stacked in separate paragraphs.
- With the merged cell selected, click Align Center in the Alignment group (the middle square in the grid of nine).
Merge and Center Options
| Goal | What to use |
|---|---|
| Center across and down | Align Center (Table Layout) |
| Center across only | Ctrl + E or Home > Center |
| Center down only | Align Center Left |
| Undo a merge | Table Layout > Split Cells |
| Center a title above text, no table | Select the paragraph and press Ctrl + E |
Troubleshooting
- Merge Cells is greyed out: The selection isn’t rectangular or you’ve selected only one cell.
- Text isn’t centered: Extra blank paragraphs from the merge push text up. Delete empty lines inside the cell.
- Merged row breaks across pages: Turn off Allow row to break across pages in Table Properties > Row.
- Need more cells first? See adding cells to a Word table or wrapping text in a table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Merge and Center shortcut in Word?
There’s no single shortcut. You can add Merge Cells to the Quick Access Toolbar, then use Ctrl + E to center.
Can I merge cells vertically?
Yes. Select cells in a column and choose Merge Cells; it works in any rectangular block.
Will merging delete my text?
No. Word keeps text from every merged cell, one paragraph per cell.
Summary
- Select the cells in the table.
- Choose Table Layout > Merge Cells.
- Click Align Center.
- Remove extra blank lines if the text sits off-center.
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.