How to Make Tables Using Microsoft Excel

This wikiHow teaches you how to create a table of information in Microsoft Excel. You can do this on both Windows and Mac versions of Excel.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Table

  1. Image titled Make Tables Using Microsoft Excel Step 1
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    Open your Excel document. Double-click the Excel document, or double-click the Excel icon and then select the document's name from the home page.
    • You can also open a new Excel document by clicking Blank Workbook on the Excel home page, but you'll need to input your data before continuing.
  2. Image titled Make Tables Using Microsoft Excel Step 2
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    Select your table's data. Click the cell in the top-left corner of the data group you want to include in your table, then hold down ⇧ Shift while clicking the bottom-right cell in the data group.
    • For example: if you have data in cells A1 down to A5 and over to D5, you would click A1 and then click D5 while holding ⇧ Shift.
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    Click the Insert tab. It's a tab in the green ribbon at the top of the Excel window. Doing so will display the Insert toolbar below the green ribbon.
    • If you're on a Mac, make sure you don't click the Insert menu item in your Mac's menu bar.
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    4
    Click Table. This option is in the "Tables" section of the toolbar. Clicking it brings up a pop-up window.
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    5
    Click OK. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. Doing so will create your table.
    • If your data group has cells at the top of it that are dedicated to column names (e.g., headers), click the "My table has headers" checkbox before you click OK.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Changing the Table's Design

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    Click the Design tab. It's in the green ribbon near the top of the Excel window. This will open a toolbar for your table's design directly below the green ribbon.
    • If you don't see this tab, click your table to prompt it to appear.
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    Select a design scheme. Click one of the colored boxes in the "Table Styles" section of the Design toolbar to apply the color and design to your table.
    • You can click the downward-facing arrow to the right of the colored boxes to scroll through different design options.
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    Review the other design options. In the "Table Style Options" section of the toolbar, check or uncheck any of the following boxes:
    • Header Row - Checking this box places column names in the top cell of the data group. Uncheck this box to remove headers.
    • Total Row - When enabled, this option adds a row at the bottom of the table that displays the total value of the right-most column.
    • Banded Rows - Check this box to color in alternating rows, or uncheck it to leave all rows in your table the same color.
    • First Column and Last Column - When enabled, these options make the headers and data in the first and/or last columns bold.
    • Banded Columns - Check this box to color in alternating columns, or uncheck it to leave all columns in your table the same color.
    • Filter Button - When checked, this box places a drop-down box next to each header in your table that allows you to change the data displayed in that column.
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    Click the Home tab again. This will take you back to the Home toolbar. Your table's changes will remain.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Filtering Table Data

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    Open the filter menu. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the header for the column whose data you want to filter. A drop-down menu will appear.
    • In order to do this, you must have both the "Header Row" and the "Filter" boxes checked in the "Table Style Options" section of the Design tab.
  2. Image titled Make Tables Using Microsoft Excel Step 11
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    Select a filter. Click one of the following options in the drop-down menu:
    • Sort Smallest to Largest
    • Sort Largest to Smallest
    • You may also have additional options such as Sort by Color or Number Filters depending on your data. If so, you can select one of these options and then click a filter in the pop-out menu.
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    Click OK if prompted. Depending on the filter you choose, you may also have to select a range or a different type of data before you can continue. Your filter will be applied to your table.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I resize the columns?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Place your mouse between the columns until the cursor changes into a double arrow pointing to the left and to the right. Left click and hold. Drag the mouse, while holding the left button, to the left to shrink or to the right to enlarge the column.
  • Question
    How do I change the width of a column in Excel?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you go up to "Format," and select "Width" you will be able to change the size.
  • Question
    How do I make a table in Excel fit the size of a paper?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    In Excel 2013, click the "Page Layout" tab, then click the "Size" dropdown menu. Most printers use 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 552,776 times.
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Co-authors: 19
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 552,776
Categories: Microsoft Excel
Article SummaryX

1. Open a file with data.
2. Select data for the table.
3. Click Insert.
4. Click Table.
5. Click OK.

Did this summary help you?
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