How to Split a Table Across Two Pages in Word

When you work with long tables in Word, you may want the table to break naturally at a page break instead of forcing all rows onto one page. By default, Word keeps table rows together to avoid splitting a single row across two pages. This article explains how to control table row splitting so your table can break across pages cleanly. You will learn the exact settings to adjust for individual rows, entire tables, and specific sections.

Why Word Keeps Table Rows Together by Default

Word treats each table row as a paragraph-level object. The default paragraph setting called Keep lines together prevents a row from splitting across two pages. This behavior is designed to avoid orphaned row fragments. However, when a table is too long to fit on one page, the entire row jumps to the next page, leaving a large gap on the first page. The solution is to change the row property that controls page break behavior.

Steps to Allow a Table Row to Split Across Pages

1. Select the row or rows you want to split
   Click in the table and drag to highlight the row or rows that should be allowed to break across pages. To apply the setting to the entire table, select all rows by clicking the table selector handle at the top-left corner of the table.
2. Open Table Properties
   Right-click the selected area and choose Table Properties from the context menu. Alternatively, go to the Table Layout tab and click Properties.
3. Go to the Row tab
   In the Table Properties dialog, click the Row tab. You will see options for row height and page break behavior.
4. Enable Allow row to break across pages
   Check the box labeled Allow row to break across pages. If the box is grayed out, make sure you have selected one or more rows and not the entire table. This setting overrides the Keep lines together paragraph property for the selected rows.
5. Set row height to At least (optional)
   In the same Row tab, set Row height to At least and enter a minimum height in inches. This ensures the row does not become too short after splitting. Do not use Exactly because that locks the row height and prevents splitting.
6. Click OK
   Close the dialog. The selected rows can now split across pages when the content exceeds the page bottom margin.

How to Keep a Specific Row From Splitting

In some cases you want most rows to split but keep a specific row intact, such as a row with a heading or a summary. To prevent a single row from splitting, follow these steps.

1. Select the row you want to keep together
   Click in the row or drag to highlight it.
2. Open Table Properties and go to the Row tab
   Right-click and choose Table Properties, then click the Row tab.
3. Uncheck Allow row to break across pages
   Clear the checkbox. The row will now stay on one page. If the row is taller than the page margin, the entire row moves to the next page.
4. Set row height to Exactly (optional)
   To force the row to a fixed height that cannot split, set Row height to Exactly and enter the height. This is useful for rows with images or merged cells that must remain whole.
5. Click OK
   The row will no longer break across pages.

Repeating Header Rows on Each Page

When a table splits across multiple pages, the header row does not repeat by default. This makes it hard to read the table on the second page. You can set one or more rows at the top of the table to repeat on every page where the table continues.

1. Select the header row or rows
   Click in the first row of the table. To select multiple header rows, drag to highlight them.
2. Open the Table Layout tab
   Click the Table Layout tab that appears when the table is selected. This tab is different from the Layout tab for page setup.
3. Click Repeat Header Rows
   In the Data group, click Repeat Header Rows. The selected rows will now appear at the top of each page where the table continues. This setting only works if the table has Allow row to break across pages enabled for at least one row below the header.

Common Issues When Splitting Tables Across Pages

Allow row to break across pages is grayed out

This happens when you select the entire table or click outside the table before opening Table Properties. Select only the rows you want to split, not the whole table. Also ensure the table is not nested inside another table.

Table still does not split after enabling the setting

Check if the row height is set to Exactly. Exactly locks the row height and prevents splitting. Change the row height to At least or leave it blank. Also verify that the paragraph inside the cell does not have Keep with next or Keep lines together enabled. Select the cell text, go to Home > Paragraph dialog launcher, click Line and Page Breaks, and uncheck Keep with next and Keep lines together.

Header row does not repeat on the second page

The Repeat Header Rows feature only works when the table is set to allow row splitting. If all rows are set to not split, the table will not break, and headers will not repeat. Also, the header row must be the first row of the table. If you have merged cells in the header, the feature still works as long as the selection includes the first row.

Table Splitting Methods Comparison

Setting	Allow row to break across pages enabled	Allow row to break across pages disabled
Row height setting	At least or blank	Exactly or At least
Page break behavior	Row content can split at any point	Entire row moves to next page
Header row repeat	Works if header row is selected	Table may not break, so header repeat has no effect
Best use case	Long tables with many rows of data	Short tables or rows with images and merged cells

You can now control exactly how your Word table splits across pages. Start by enabling Allow row to break across pages for data rows, then set header rows to repeat for readability. If a row must stay intact, disable the split setting and use Exactly for row height. For tables that still behave unexpectedly, check the paragraph properties inside each cell to remove Keep with next and Keep lines together.