Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Distributing Columns Evenly.

Distributing Columns Evenly

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 19, 2016)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016

When it is time to format a table, you may find that your overall table width is set the way you want it, but the columns within the table are not "just right." For instance, you may want the columns to be the same width as each other without disturbing the overall width of the table. Here's how you can make the formatting change:

Position the insertion point within the table you want to modify.
Display the Layout tab of the ribbon. (This tab is available only after completing step 1.)
Click the Distribute Columns tool in the Cell Size group.

Word dutifully adjusts individual column widths without affecting the overall width of your table.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5976) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Distributing Columns Evenly.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is five more than 6?

2018-11-24 13:28:22

Steve Rawcliffe

Extra tip ... to even up just (say) Columns 2-4 of a four-column table, select Columns 2-4 before hitting "Distribute Columns". Columns 2-4 distribute, leaving Column 1 untouched.

2016-11-21 09:17:14

Larry

Overall, lots of good info, but my Mac 2011 version often doesn't have the same options that other versions have, like the "Distribut Columns Evenly.

However, there's simple ways around it, sometimes manual.

We have found that once any document gets a bit complicated, with colums that vary, pictures/graphics, it's much easy to use a layout program like InDesign.

Often Word has no good spacing saluting when things get tight and ends up taking a lot longer.

Thoughts?

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