Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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: Quickly Removing Table Borders.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 23, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
When you insert a table in Word, it automatically adds a border around the cells in the table. For many purposes, you may not want the borders. There are many different ways to get rid of the borders, but perhaps the simplest is to simply press Ctrl+Alt+U right after inserting the table. (After you insert the table, the insertion point is typically within a cell of the table. If it is not, you should make sure you place the insertion point within the table before pressing Ctrl+Alt+U.)
It is important to note that the Ctrl+Alt+U shortcut removes all formatting from the table—not just the borders. If you want to remove the borders but keep other formatting in your table, select your whole table and choose No Borders from the drop-down list on the Borders tool in the Borders group on the Table Design tab of the ribbon.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13133) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Quickly Removing Table Borders.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
You may spend some time getting the color in a portion of a table just right, only to be faced with the task of copying ...
Discover MoreIf you've adjusted the height of your table and the rows within the table, you might want to later return all those rows ...
Discover MoreWhen you have a long table that extends over multiple pages, Word allows you to specify one or more rows to be repeated ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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:
Comments