When you insert a table in a Word document, it often aligns to the left margin by default. This can make a document look unbalanced, especially if the table is narrower than the page width. You may have tried selecting the table and clicking the Center button on the Home tab, only to find that the text inside the table centered but the table itself did not move. This happens because the table alignment is controlled by a separate set of properties, not the paragraph alignment buttons. This article explains why the standard Center button does not work for tables and provides two reliable methods to center a table on the page: using the Table Properties dialog and using keyboard shortcuts. You will also learn how to center a table that spans multiple pages and what to do if your table is too wide to center.
Key Takeaways: Centering a Table in Word
- Table Properties > Table tab > Alignment section > Center: This is the primary method to center the entire table on the page, independent of cell content alignment.
- Ctrl+E keyboard shortcut with table selected: Centers the table only if you select the table using the table selector handle at the top-left corner; selecting cells or rows will center only the text.
- Right-click the table handle > Table Properties > Center: The fastest way to open the correct dialog without navigating the ribbon.
Why the Center Button on the Home Tab Does Not Center a Table
The Center button on the Home tab applies paragraph alignment to the selected content. When you select text inside a table cell and click Center, the text moves to the center of that cell. When you select the entire table by dragging across cells and click Center, Word interprets the selection as multiple paragraphs inside cells and centers the content within each cell. The table itself remains left-aligned on the page because table alignment is a table-level property, not a paragraph property.
Word stores table alignment in the Table Properties dialog, under the Table tab. This setting controls the horizontal position of the table relative to the page margins. The default setting is Left. To center the table, you must change this setting to Center. The table alignment setting is independent of cell alignment, so you can have a table centered on the page while the text inside the table is left-aligned, right-aligned, or centered.
How to Center a Table Using Table Properties
This method works in all versions of Word for Windows and Mac. It is the most reliable method because it directly accesses the table alignment setting.
- Click the table selector handle
Click the small square icon that appears at the top-left corner of the table when you hover over it. This selects the entire table. If you do not see the handle, click anywhere inside the table and it will appear. - Open Table Properties
Right-click the selected table and choose Table Properties from the context menu. Alternatively, go to the Table Layout tab under Table Tools and click Properties in the Table group. - Set alignment to Center
In the Table Properties dialog, make sure the Table tab is active. In the Alignment section, click the Center icon. The preview box will show the table centered between the margins. - Apply the change
Click OK. The table moves to the center of the page. If the table is too wide to fit between the margins, the Center option will still be available but the table will appear left-aligned because it cannot move further left than the left margin.
How to Center a Table Using Keyboard Shortcuts
If you prefer using the keyboard, you can center a table with Ctrl+E, but only if you select the table correctly.
- Select the entire table
Click the table selector handle at the top-left corner of the table. Do not select cells by dragging. The handle selects the table as a whole object. - Press Ctrl+E
Press the Ctrl and E keys simultaneously. The table centers on the page. If you selected cells instead of the whole table, Ctrl+E will center the text inside those cells. - Verify alignment
Click anywhere outside the table to deselect it. The table should be centered between the left and right margins. If it is not, use the Table Properties method.
How to Center a Table That Spans Multiple Pages
When a table continues onto a second page, the table alignment setting applies to the entire table. You do not need to repeat the centering steps on each page. However, if the table has header rows that repeat, the header row also remains centered. Follow the same Table Properties method above while the cursor is in any part of the table. The alignment change applies to all pages where the table appears.
Common Issues When Centering a Table
The Center option is grayed out in Table Properties
This happens when the table is set to a fixed width that equals or exceeds the page width between margins. Reduce the table width or change the margins to give the table room to center. To reduce table width, select the table, go to Table Layout > AutoFit and choose AutoFit Contents or AutoFit Window. Alternatively, drag the right border of the table to the left.
The table appears centered on screen but not when printed
Check the page margins. If the left and right margins are unequal, a centered table may appear offset. Go to Layout > Margins and set the margins to the same value on both sides. Also check that the table is not inside a text box or frame, which has its own alignment settings.
Centering a table also centers the text inside it
This is not the default behavior. If centering the table also centers the cell content, the cell alignment was already set to Center before you centered the table. To fix this, select the table, go to Table Layout > Align and choose Align Top Left or another alignment. Then center the table using Table Properties. The cell alignment and table alignment are independent.
The table moves when I add or remove text above it
A table that is not anchored to a specific position may shift. To prevent this, right-click the table handle, choose Table Properties, go to the Table tab, and click Positioning. Set the vertical position to 0 relative to Paragraph. This locks the table to the paragraph above it. If you want the table to stay at a fixed distance from the top margin, set vertical position to Top relative to Page.
Table Alignment Comparison: Center vs Left vs Right
| Setting | Result | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| Left (default) | Table aligns to the left margin | Table fills most of the page width or you want a standard left-aligned layout |
| Center | Table is centered between left and right margins | Table is narrower than the page and you want a balanced look |
| Right | Table aligns to the right margin | Table is placed alongside other content or you want a right-aligned design |
You can also set a custom indent from the left margin using the Indent from Left box in Table Properties. A positive indent value shifts the table to the right. To center manually, calculate the indent as (page width minus table width) divided by 2 and enter that value. This is useful when the Center option does not work due to table width constraints.
Now you can center a table on the page using Table Properties or the Ctrl+E shortcut with the correct selection. If the table is too wide, reduce its width or adjust the margins before centering. For precise control over table position, use the Table Positioning dialog to set exact distances from margins or paragraphs. This keeps your table stable even when you edit surrounding content.