How to Make Table Smaller in Google Docs

Tanja Tanja

Written by Tanja Google Workplace / Docs

- 4 min read
Key Points

To make a table smaller in Google Docs:

Open your Google docs file with the table you want to make appear smaller > select all the table cells (either by clicking on the top-left cell > press and hold left-click and glide over the table to highlight it, or by clicking on the top-left cell > press & hold 'Shift' and use the 'arrow' keys to select the table cells) > click on Format (upper toolbar) > Table > Table properties > Place a checkmark next to the 'Column width' option and enter your desired width for each column.

Do you want to make your Google Docs table look smaller but don’t know how to do it? - no worries, we’ve got you covered.

A Google Docs table is an essential feature for users because it helps them arrange the information they want into rows and columns; plus, it can be customized and useful for various different tasks - text information, numerical data, etc.

But, often, the Google Docs tables that users create take up the entire page width, and nobody wants that.

Luckily, even if it seems that there isn’t an option to adjust the table size of rows and columns, there is a way to make them smaller.

Keep reading to learn how to select, modify a setting and make your Google Docs table smaller.

You can also check out: How to move a table in Google Docs?

How to make Google Docs table smaller (desktop version)

These steps are given for the Google Chrome browser, but they also work in browsers like Firefox or Edge.

  1. Sign in to your Google Drive account using your login credentials.
  2. Open a Google Docs file with the table.
  3. After you have placed the table you want to change, select all the table cells.

There are two methods to highlight/select the table cells:

Method No.1 Click on the top-left cell in the table > press & hold left-click and glide over the table to highlight it.

Method No.2 Click on the top-left cell > press & hold ‘Shift’ and use the ‘Arrow keys’ to select the table cells.

Select Table cells - Google Docs

  1. Once you’ve selected the table cells, click on Format (upper toolbar) and then on Table.

Format > Table - Google Docs options

  1. Next, choose and click on ‘Table properties’.

Table properties option - Google Docs

  1. You will see the Table properties box displaying options for you to choose from (table-border, dimensions, etc).

Table properties box - Google Docs

  1. Put a checkmark next to the ‘Column width’ option and enter your desired width for each column.
  2. You can also modify any other settings given in this menu (e.g., change the table alignment to the ‘Centar’).
  3. Last step, click on ‘OK’.

Now you will have a smaller table that does not take the full width of your document.

How to make rows and columns the same size

  1. Open a Google Docs file.
  2. Right-click a table.
  3. Click on the option Distribute rows or Distribute columns.

How to make Google Slides smaller

  1. Open a presentation and click on a table.
  2. Move your mouse to any corner of the table.
  3. Your cursor should become a two-sided arrow - click on it and drag it in any direction.

Conclusion

The Table Properties menu box provides you access to several ways to modify your row and column dimensions and the overall appearance of your table.

Also, adjusting the column width or row height of an existing table cannot be done without first selecting the elements you want to modify.

If you are interested in other Google Docs features, you can explore how to turn off auto caps in Google Docs, circle something, or do the double underline there - we have guides on those too.

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