Formatting Issues

How to Center a Word or Excel Table Vertically on a Page

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to vertically center a specific table on a flyer page, as the standard document vertical alignment settings are not positioning the individual table correctly.

Product: Word Processing / Spreadsheets
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing a flyer layout and attempting to vertically center a single table exactly in the middle of the printed page.
Observed behavior: Using Format > Document > Vertical Alignment > Center aligns the entire section's content rather than precisely centering the individual table.

Before you start

Ensure your document is in Print Layout view so you can accurately observe the page margins and real-time table positioning adjustments.

Solution 1Recommended

Center the Table Using Table Properties Positioning

Manually configure the table's absolute positioning relative to the page margins to ensure precise vertical and horizontal centering.

By default, document vertical alignment applies to all content within a section. To center an individual table independently of other text or paragraph marks, you must use the absolute positioning feature found in Table Properties.

Select the Table

Click the crosshair icon at the top-left corner of the table to select the entire table you want to center.

Open Table Properties

Navigate to the Table Layout tab on the top ribbon and click on Properties, or right-click the selected table and choose Table Properties.

Enable Text Wrapping

In the Table tab of the Properties dialog, locate the Text Wrapping section and select 'Around'. This enables the Positioning button.

Set Positioning to Center

Click the Positioning button. In the Table Positioning dialog, set both the Horizontal and Vertical position dropdowns to 'Center', and ensure they are relative to the 'Page' or 'Margin'. Click OK to apply.

Perfect Alignment: Your table is now anchored to the center of the page. It will maintain this position even if you change page sizes, provided the relative settings remain.

Solution 2

Review Section Settings and Paragraph Formatting

If the table still appears misplaced after setting its position, conflicting layout settings or hidden formatting symbols might be interfering.

Seamless Document Formatting

Easily Align and Format Tables with WPS Office

WPS Office provides highly intuitive table layout tools that make positioning tables perfectly on your page a breeze. Enjoy full compatibility with Microsoft Word and Excel formats, all within a lightweight application.

1. Insert the Table: Open WPS Writer, go to the Insert tab, and click Table to draw your grid.
2. Access Properties: Right-click the table and select Table Properties from the context menu.
3. Center the Table: Under Text Wrapping, select 'Around', click Positioning, and set Vertical Alignment to 'Center' relative to the Page.

Intuitive Table Properties dialog for precise vertical and horizontal positioning.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Rich pre-designed table templates to enhance your flyer's appearance.Free and lightweight alternative for all your daily office tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Page Layout vertical alignment center my individual table?

Document-level vertical alignment distributes all the content within a section. If you have extra paragraph marks, headers, or spacing on the same page, the table won't center independently. Absolute table positioning is required for individual elements.

Can I center multiple tables on the same page?

Yes, but you will need to adjust the vertical positioning manually for each table using the Positioning dialog. Set different absolute measurements relative to the page to ensure they do not overlap.

Will this centering hold if I export the flyer to PDF?

Yes, absolute table positioning relative to the page or margins is retained perfectly when you export or print your document as a PDF file.

Document & File Issues