SharePoint Document Issues

How to Control Table Widths in SharePoint Online Text Web Parts

Steve K Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to adjust and control table column widths within the modern SharePoint Online Text web part, as migrated tables have fixed widths and newly created ones use proportional widths.

How to Control Table Widths in SharePoint Online Text Web Parts

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting tables inside SharePoint pages after migration or when creating new page content.
Observed behavior: The built-in modern Text web part lacks a direct setting to change table width behavior, leaving users unable to easily toggle between fixed and responsive proportional widths.

Before you start

Verify whether you have SharePoint Administrator or Site Owner permissions, as deploying custom solutions like SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web parts requires elevated access.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Custom SPFx Web Part for Table Control

Since the native Text web part lacks table width controls, building a custom SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web part is the recommended approach for gaining full formatting control.

The built-in Text web part in SharePoint Online does not expose settings to toggle between fixed and proportional table widths.

To gain full control over how tables render on your pages, you will need to create a custom web part using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx). Keep in mind that SPFx cannot be used to modify the existing Text web part.

Define formatting requirements

Determine your specific layout requirements for fixed versus responsive table widths on your SharePoint pages.

Set up SPFx environment

Set up your SharePoint Framework (SPFx) development environment following Microsoft's official deployment guidelines.

Develop the custom web part

Build a custom web part that includes a rich text editor or a dedicated table component with customizable column width properties.

Consult Microsoft Q&A for guidance

For specific implementation guidance or code samples, visit the SharePoint Development section of Microsoft Q&A and request developer assistance.

Create a Custom SPFx Web Part for Table Control

Development Limitation: SPFx cannot directly modify the behavior of the built-in Text web part. It is solely intended for creating entirely new, custom web parts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Easily Manage Table Formatting in Documents with WPS Office

While adjusting table widths directly on SharePoint pages requires custom development, managing tables in your standalone documents shouldn't be difficult. WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, giving you precise control over table widths and document layouts.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file containing the tables.
2. Access table tools: Click anywhere inside the table to reveal the Table Tools tab on the top ribbon.
3. Adjust column widths: Hover over the column borders to drag and resize, or use the AutoFit options to precisely control the width of each column.

Precise drag-and-drop table width and formatting controls.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Lightweight software that loads quickly on any device.Familiar user interface for seamless migration from Microsoft Office.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my migrated tables in SharePoint have fixed widths?

When content is migrated from older versions of SharePoint or external platforms, the original HTML often contains hardcoded fixed width values, which SharePoint Online retains to preserve the original appearance.

Can I modify the default SharePoint Text web part using code?

No, the built-in modern Text web part in SharePoint Online is closed to direct modification. You cannot alter its native behavior or add new formatting buttons using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx).

Are there any out-of-the-box workarounds for table widths?

Currently, the modern Text web part automatically applies responsive proportional widths to newly created tables. If you need fixed widths without custom development, your best option is to paste a pre-formatted HTML table from an external editor, though results may vary based on SharePoint's internal CSS.

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