'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Excel Table Borders Missing When Copied to Outlook
Question details
Users are unable to retain table borders when copying data from Microsoft Excel to Outlook on the web.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Copying and pasting a formatted Excel table into an Outlook web email message.
- Observed behavior
- Table borders and gridlines disappear in the Outlook message, even though text, alignment, and HTML email formats are preserved.
Ensure your Outlook email format is set to HTML and not Plain Text, as Plain Text will automatically strip all formatting, including table borders.
Use Microsoft Word as an Intermediary (Recommended)
Pasting the Excel table into Word first preserves the formatting, which can then be safely copied into Outlook web without losing borders.
Due to how Outlook on the web parses clipboard data directly from Excel, it sometimes fails to read the border styles. Microsoft Word handles HTML clipboard translation differently, making it an excellent bridge to retain your table's appearance.
Select the formatted table in your Excel spreadsheet and press Ctrl+C to copy it.
Open a blank document in Microsoft Word and press Ctrl+V to paste the table.
Click the crosshair icon at the top-left of the table in Word to select the entire table, then press Ctrl+C again.
Go to your Outlook 365 web email draft and press Ctrl+V to paste the table. The borders should now display correctly.
Use Google Sheets to Bridge the Format
Similar to the Word method, passing the data through Google Sheets can convert the table borders into a web-friendly HTML format that Outlook recognizes.
Paste the Table as an Image
If the recipient does not need to edit the data, pasting the table as a picture ensures 100% visual accuracy.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Interoperability
Tired of formatting bugs and clipboard glitches? WPS Office is a lightweight, fully compatible office suite that accurately preserves your table borders, cell styles, and charts when sharing or exporting data.
- 1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Excel workbook without losing any formatting.
- 2. Copy the table: Highlight the table area and press Ctrl+C to copy the data with all its native borders and styles.
- 3. Paste into your email client: Switch to your email draft and press Ctrl+V to paste the fully formatted table easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel borders disappear when pasted into an email?
This happens due to inconsistencies in how the email client's HTML editor (like Outlook on the web) reads the clipboard data generated by Excel. The editor sometimes fails to parse the specific CSS or border attributes correctly.
Does changing the Outlook email format to HTML fix this issue?
While setting the email format to HTML is strictly required to display any table borders, a known bug in Outlook 365 web means borders might still be stripped even when HTML format is actively selected. Using a workaround like copying through Word is recommended.
Is this a permanent bug in Outlook on the web?
Microsoft frequently updates Outlook 365. This clipboard parsing issue often appears periodically after backend service updates. Reporting the issue via the Outlook web 'Feedback' tool can help Microsoft prioritize a permanent patch.
Will adding thicker borders in Excel force them to show up in Outlook?
Usually, no. If the Outlook web editor is failing to read the border styles from the Excel clipboard data, changing the border thickness or color in Excel will not bypass the underlying compatibility glitch.
