Word 2013 can repeat the first row or rows of a table automatically when the table continues onto another page. This makes long printed tables easier to read because readers do not have to return to the first page to remember what each column represents.
Repeat table headings on each page
- Open the document and select the header row at the top of the table.
- If the header uses multiple rows, select all consecutive heading rows beginning with the first row.
- Open the Table Tools Layout tab.
- Select Repeat Header Rows.
- Use Print Preview to confirm that the heading appears when the table flows onto another page.
The header must start at the top of the table
Word repeats consecutive rows from the beginning of the table. Selecting a row in the middle and designating it as a heading does not create a repeating section header in the same way.
Do not insert manual page breaks inside the table unnecessarily
Manual breaks and unusual table structure can interfere with normal pagination. Let Word flow the table across pages when possible, then control row-breaking behavior through Table Properties if needed.
The repeated heading may not appear in every editing view
Use Print Layout and Print Preview when verifying the result. The purpose of the feature is page-based output, so other views can be misleading.
Repeating rows are not duplicated data
Word displays the designated heading at the top of each continuation page; it does not create separate editable copies of those cells throughout the table.
Office 2013 reached end of support in April 2023. Word 2013 still supports repeating table headers, but a supported Microsoft 365 or Office release is preferable for security and current document compatibility.
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.
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