Formatting Issues

How to Add Space Above or Below a Table in Microsoft Word

Steven Parker Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to properly insert spacing before or after a table in a Word document without relying on manual formatting like blank lines.

How to Add Space Above or Below a Table in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adjusting document layout to ensure consistent and professional spacing around inserted tables.
Observed behavior: Because Word lacks a direct table margin setting, users often rely on pressing Enter to create blank paragraphs or adding invisible table rows, which disrupts document formatting.

Before you start

Enable formatting marks (by clicking the Paragraph icon on the Home tab) so you can clearly see existing paragraph returns and spacing around your table before making adjustments.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Paragraph Spacing Settings

The cleanest and most standard method to add space around a table is to modify the spacing of the text paragraphs immediately preceding or following it.

Instead of inserting empty lines, you can configure the exact point size of the space above or below the table by adjusting the adjacent text. This keeps your document clean and prevents awkward page breaks.

Select the adjacent paragraph

Place your text cursor in the paragraph immediately above or immediately below your table.

Open the Layout tab

Navigate to the 'Layout' tab (or 'Page Layout' in older versions of Word) on the top ribbon.

Adjust the spacing values

In the 'Paragraph' group, adjust the 'Before' spacing to add room above the text (pushing it away from the table below), or the 'After' spacing to add room below the text (pushing the table further down).

Best Practice: This method avoids empty paragraph markers, keeping your document formatting stable, predictable, and professional.

Solution 2

Apply a Dedicated Paragraph Style

If you have multiple tables in your document, creating a specific paragraph style ensures consistent spacing throughout.

Efficient Document Formatting

Easily Manage Table Spacing with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for adjusting paragraph and table spacing, allowing you to format professional documents quickly without using manual workarounds.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your document containing the table.
2. Select the surrounding text: Click into the paragraph right before or right after your table.
3. Adjust spacing settings: Go to the 'Page Layout' tab and use the 'Spacing' controls to increase the 'Before' or 'After' values, adding precise space around your table.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Intuitive paragraph layout controls for precise table spacing.Free, lightweight, and fast document processing.Built-in professional templates with pre-configured table styles.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why shouldn't I just press Enter to add an empty line above my table?

Pressing Enter adds an empty paragraph marker. While this visually creates space, it can cause unpredictable page breaks and inconsistent spacing when editing the document later or changing page sizes. Using paragraph spacing settings is cleaner and more professional.

Can I add a blank row inside the table to create space?

While adding an empty row at the top or bottom of a table with hidden borders works visually, it can interfere with screen readers, sorting functions, and data calculations. It is highly recommended to adjust the spacing outside the table instead.

How do I remove unwanted space before a table?

Place your cursor in the paragraph immediately preceding the table, go to the Layout tab, and reduce the 'Spacing After' value to 0 pt. Also, ensure there are no empty paragraph marks (blank lines) between the text and the table by enabling formatting marks on the Home tab.

Document & File Issues