To shrink a table in Word, click inside it, open the Table Layout tab (just Layout in older versions), click AutoFit, and choose AutoFit Contents. Word narrows every column to fit its text. For more control, drag the table’s bottom-right corner handle, set exact widths in Table Properties, or make the text and cell padding smaller.
Quick Answer
Click in the table > Table Layout > AutoFit > AutoFit Contents.
Method 1: AutoFit
- Click anywhere in the table.
- Open the Table Layout tab.
- Click AutoFit > AutoFit Contents.
Method 2: Drag to Resize
- Hover over the table until a small square appears at the bottom-right corner.
- Drag the square inward to shrink the whole table. Hold Shift to keep proportions.
- To narrow one column, drag its border line left or right.
Method 3: Exact Sizes
- Right-click the table and choose Table Properties.
- On the Table tab, check Preferred width and enter a value or percentage.
- Use the Row and Column tabs to set heights and widths, then click OK.
More Ways to Make a Table Smaller
| Change | Where |
|---|---|
| Smaller font | Select the table, then Home > Font size |
| Less padding | Table Layout > Cell Margins |
| Shorter rows | Table Layout > Height, or remove spacing after paragraphs in cells |
| Even column widths | Table Layout > Distribute Columns |
| Fit a wide table on a page | AutoFit Window, or switch the page to Landscape |
For individual rows, learn how to change row height.
New to tables? See how to create a table in Word.
Make a wide table fit the page
- Click in the table and choose Table Layout > AutoFit > AutoFit Window. The table snaps to the space between the margins.
- If text is now cramped, reduce the font size by a point or two and shrink the cell margins.
- For very wide tables, put the table in its own landscape section: select it, go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins, choose Landscape, and set Apply to to Selected text. Word adds section breaks around it.
- Rotate long headings with Table Layout > Text Direction so narrow columns still fit their labels.
Shrink a table that spills onto the next page
A table that’s just slightly too tall often fits after a few small changes: lower or clear Specify height in Table Properties > Row, remove empty paragraphs above or below the table, and set paragraph spacing inside the cells to 0 pt. If it still doesn’t fit, decide how it should break. Our guide to stopping a table from splitting across pages explains the row options, and Table Layout > Repeat Header Rows keeps the headings on each page.
Shrink a table pasted from Excel
Tables pasted from Excel keep Excel’s column widths, which are often wider than the page. Click in the table and use AutoFit Window, or paste with the Merge Formatting option so the table picks up your document’s font. For more, see inserting an Excel table into Word and making it fit.
After resizing
A smaller table may drift to the left margin. Select it and use Home > Center, or set alignment in Table Properties. Our guide to aligning tables in Word covers text wrapping and positioning.
Troubleshooting
- Table won’t shrink: A long word, URL or picture sets a minimum width. Shorten it or resize the picture.
- Rows stay tall: Row height may be set to Exactly or At least. Check Table Properties > Row.
- Table jumps to the next page: Allow rows to break across pages in Table Properties > Row.
- Want it centered after shrinking? See aligning tables in Word.
Related: Fix common table problems in Word.
Related: Wrap text in a Word table.
Related: Fit everything on one page in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I undo AutoFit?
Press Ctrl + Z, or choose AutoFit > Fixed Column Width to stop Word from resizing columns automatically.
Can I shrink a table pasted from Excel?
Yes, if it was pasted as a Word table. If it’s an embedded object, drag its corner handles instead.
Why won’t my column get any narrower?
A long word, an image, or a fixed cell width is holding it open. Check Table Properties > Column for a preferred width, and resize or wrap the content in that column.
Can I resize several tables at once?
Not in one step. Word applies AutoFit to one table at a time, so repeat it for each table or use a table style for consistent fonts and padding.
Summary
- Use AutoFit Contents for a quick fit.
- Drag the corner handle to resize the whole table.
- Set exact widths in Table Properties.
- Reduce font size and cell margins for tighter tables.
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.