Easy Tech TutsHow to Format Tables in Google Docs Easily 2026
By Impran M N
A raw, unstyled table can look messy next to the rest of your document, but Google Docs gives you a dedicated Table Properties sidebar to polish it into something presentation-ready. This guide covers adjusting padding, applying header colors, tweaking borders, and evenly distributing rows and columns.
01Open Table Properties
Highlight your table, right-click the selection, and choose 'Table Properties' to open the formatting sidebar.
02Set dimensions
Expand the Table and Column sections to input precise numerical dimensions for your layout.
03Adjust cell padding
In the Cell dropdown, increase internal padding so text doesn't feel cramped against the borders.
04Style the header row
Highlight your top row and change its background color to create a strong visual hierarchy between headers and data.
05Distribute rows and columns evenly
Select the table, right-click, and choose 'Distribute rows' or 'Distribute columns' for uniform sizing across the grid.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add alternating row colors to my table?
Yes, you can manually apply background colors to alternating rows to create a zebra-striped effect.
How do I change border thickness?
Use the toolbar's border icons after selecting your table, or adjust it more precisely inside Table Properties.
Will formatting changes apply to the whole table or just selected cells?
Most changes apply to whatever cells or rows are currently selected, so you can style specific sections independently.
What happens if my formatted table doesn't fit on one page?
Check your column widths and padding, and Google Docs will still let the table flow onto the next page while keeping formatting intact.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
