By default, Word places a table on its own line with no text beside it. This creates a block of white space on either side of the table that can make a document look unbalanced. The table wrapping feature lets you position text to the left or right of the table, similar to how you wrap text around an image. This article explains how to enable table wrapping, how to set precise margins between the table and the surrounding text, and what to do when the wrapping does not behave as expected.
Key Takeaways: Wrapping Text Around a Table in Word
- Table Properties > Table tab > Text wrapping > Around: Enables text to flow beside the table instead of above and below it.
- Table Properties > Table tab > Positioning > Distance from surrounding text: Sets the gap in inches between the table and the wrapped text on each side.
- Drag the table handle while holding Alt: Lets you nudge the table into a precise horizontal position without snapping to the grid.
Understanding Table Wrapping in Word
When you insert a table in Word, the table sits on its own paragraph by itself. Text before the table ends at the table’s left edge, and text after the table starts below the table’s last row. This is called the “None” wrapping mode. In this mode, the table behaves like a large character that occupies the full width of the page margins unless you manually resize it.
Wrapping changes this behavior. When you set the wrapping mode to “Around,” the table no longer blocks the entire line. Instead, text flows into the space on the left or right side of the table. This is useful for sidebars, comparison columns, or placing a small data table next to descriptive text.
Prerequisites for Table Wrapping
Table wrapping works in all desktop versions of Word for Windows and Mac. Word for the web does not support table wrapping. If you open a document with a wrapped table in Word for the web, the wrapping is preserved but you cannot modify it. The document must be saved in .docx format. Older .doc files support wrapping but the positioning options are limited.
How Table Wrapping Differs From Image Wrapping
Image wrapping in Word uses the Layout Options button that appears next to a selected image. Tables do not have this button. You must open the Table Properties dialog to change wrapping. Also, images can use multiple wrapping styles such as Square, Tight, Through, Top and Bottom, and Behind Text. Tables support only two wrapping styles: None and Around.
Steps to Enable Text Wrapping Around a Table
- Click anywhere inside the table
Clicking inside the table activates the Table Tools contextual tabs on the ribbon. You will see two new tabs: Table Design and Layout. - Open Table Properties
Right-click the table handle (the four-arrow icon at the top-left corner of the table) and select Table Properties from the context menu. Alternatively, go to the Layout tab under Table Tools and click Properties in the Table group. - Switch to the Table tab
In the Table Properties dialog, click the Table tab. This tab contains the Text wrapping section with two radio buttons: None and Around. - Select Around and click Positioning
Click the Around radio button. The Positioning button becomes active. Click Positioning to open the Table Positioning dialog. - Set the horizontal position
In the Table Positioning dialog, under Horizontal, set the Position value. Choose Left, Center, Right, Inside, or Outside from the Position dropdown. The Relative to dropdown lets you anchor the position to Margin, Page, or Column. For text to wrap beside the table, choose Left or Right and set Relative to Margin. - Set the vertical position
Under Vertical, set the Position value to Top, Center, or Bottom. The Relative to dropdown can be set to Margin, Page, or Paragraph. For most documents, Top and Relative to Paragraph works well because the table stays aligned with the first line of the surrounding paragraph. - Adjust distance from surrounding text
In the Distance from surrounding text section, enter values in inches for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right. The default is 0.13 inches on each side. Increase the Left and Right values to create more breathing room between the table and the wrapped text. Click OK to close the Table Positioning dialog. - Click OK to close Table Properties
Click OK in the Table Properties dialog. The text now wraps around the table. If the table is set to Left, text appears to the right of the table. If the table is set to Right, text appears to the left.
If Text Still Does Not Wrap Correctly
Table is Too Wide for the Page
If the table width exceeds roughly half the page width, there is not enough space left for text to wrap beside it. Word will push the text below the table even when wrapping is enabled. To fix this, reduce the column widths or set a fixed table width. Click the Layout tab under Table Tools, click AutoFit, and select AutoFit Contents or AutoFit Window. Alternatively, right-click the table handle, go to Table Properties, and on the Table tab set the Preferred width to a smaller value such as 3 inches.
Text Appears Below the Table Instead of Beside It
This happens when the paragraph that contains the table has a page break or a section break immediately after the table. Remove any manual breaks near the table. Also check that the paragraph after the table is not set to “Keep with next” in the Paragraph dialog. Go to Home > Paragraph dialog launcher > Line and Page Breaks tab and uncheck Keep with next.
Wrapping Changes When You Add or Remove Text
When you add text above the table, the table may shift down and the wrapping may break. This is normal because the table position is relative to the paragraph anchor. To keep the table in a fixed position on the page, open Table Properties, click Positioning, and uncheck Move object with text. Then set the vertical position to an absolute value such as 1 inch from the top of the page.
Word Desktop vs Word for the Web: Table Wrapping
| Item | Word Desktop (Windows/Mac) | Word for the Web |
|---|---|---|
| Enable wrapping | Table Properties > Table tab > Around | Not supported |
| Adjust distance from text | Table Positioning dialog, four margin fields | Not supported |
| Anchor position | Relative to Margin, Page, Column, or Paragraph | Not supported |
| Move object with text | Checkbox in Table Positioning dialog | Not supported |
| Preserve existing wrapping | Yes, fully editable | Yes, displayed but not editable |
Table wrapping is a desktop-only feature. If you share a document with wrapped tables with someone who uses Word for the web, they will see the wrapping as intended but cannot change it. To edit the wrapping, they must open the document in the desktop app.
You can now wrap text around a table in Word by using the Table Properties dialog and the Table Positioning options. Start by setting the wrapping mode to Around, then choose a horizontal position such as Left or Right. Adjust the distance from surrounding text to control the gap. If the table is too wide, reduce its width using AutoFit or a fixed value. For precise placement, uncheck Move object with text and set an absolute vertical position. This method works in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, and Word for Microsoft 365.