Add a cell, row, or column to a table in Word (2024)

In this article

• Add a cell

• Add a row above or below

• Add a column to the left or right

• About the Table Tools contextual tabs

Add a cell

1. Click in a cell that is to the right of or above where you want to insert a cell.

2. Select the Layout tab.

3. Click the arrow at the bottom, right-hand corner of the Rows & Columns section.

4. Click one of the following options.

   Click	To
   Shift cells right	Insert a cell and move all other cells in that row to the right. Note:Word does not insert a new column. This may result in a row that has more cells than the other rows.
   Shift cells down	Insert a cell and move the existing cells down one row. A new row is added at the bottom of the table.
   Insert entire row	Insert a row above the cell that you clicked in.
   Insert entire column	Insert a column to the left of the cell that you clicked in.

Top of Page

Add a row above or below

1. Click in a cell above or below where you want to add a row.

2. On the Layout tab, do one of the following:

   • To add a row above the cell, click Insert Above in the Rows and Columns group.

   • To add a row below the cell, click Insert Below in the Rows and Columns group.

     See Also

     Excel 2016: What are Reference Styles?Excel – R1C1 Reference Style vs. A1Excel 2016: Cell BasicsColumn labels became numbers instead of letters

Tip:To insert more than one row (or column) at the same time, select as many rows or columns as you want to add before you click the insert control. For example, to insert two rows above a row, first select two rows in your table and then click Insert Above.

Top of Page

Add a column to the left or right

1. Click in a cell to the left or right of where you want to add a column.

2. On the Layout tab, do one of the following:

   • To add a column to the left of the cell, click Insert Left in the Rows and Columns group.

   • To add a column to the right of the cell, click Insert Right in the Rows and Columns group.

Top of Page

About the Table Design and Layoutcontextual tabs

You will need to know where the Table Design and Layoutcontextual tabs are when working on the design and structural layout of a table. The Table Design and Layout tabs are only visible after you have clicked inside of a table, and appear at the top of the screen on the ribbon.

Top of Page

See Also

Delete a row, column, or cell from a table

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word on Windows