Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word Table Styles Not Applying Font Sizes

Rana Garcia Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Word table styles fail to apply or retain the specified font sizes for headers and rows.

How to Fix Word Table Styles Not Applying Font Sizes

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting document tables and applying custom table styles.
Observed behavior: Custom or default table styles do not reflect the specified font sizes because the document's default font settings conflict with the Normal paragraph style.

Before you start

Before adjusting the default document settings, highlight your table and clear any manual direct formatting, as direct character formatting will always override the underlying table style properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Synchronize Document Default Font with Normal Style

Aligning the document's default font settings with the Normal style ensures that table styles can correctly inherit and apply their designated font sizes without conflict.

In Microsoft Word, table styles rely on a complex inheritance hierarchy. If the underlying document default font does not match the Normal style, the table style's font formatting is often ignored. Resetting the default font forces the styles to synchronize.

Open Font Dialog

Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard while in your Word document to open the Font dialog box.

Set the Required Font

In the Font dialog, select your desired font family and specify the correct font size that you want to serve as your document's baseline.

Set as Default

Click the 'Set As Default' button located at the bottom left corner of the dialog box.

Apply to Document

A prompt will appear asking about the scope of the change. Choose 'This document only' and click 'OK' to synchronize the settings and fix the table style formatting.

Synchronize Document Default Font with Normal Style

Formatting Restored: Once synchronized, your table header and row styles should immediately begin reflecting their properly assigned font sizes.

Format Tables with Ease in WPS Writer

Avoid frustrating style conflicts and format your document tables effortlessly using WPS Writer. It provides an intuitive interface for managing styles and perfectly supports Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing document or create a new one.
2. Insert a Table: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Table' to generate a new grid.
3. Access Table Tools: Click anywhere inside the table to reveal the dedicated 'Table Tools' tab on the ribbon.
4. Apply Table Styles: Select a predefined, conflict-free layout from the 'Table Style' gallery, or click 'Table Properties' to accurately set custom font sizes.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) documents and formattingEasily apply, modify, and manage table styles without font size conflictsLightweight software with a highly intuitive, user-friendly interfaceFree rich text formatting and advanced page layout tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my font change unexpectedly when I type inside a Word table?

This usually happens if a different style is applied to the table cells, or if the document's default font settings conflict with the Normal paragraph style. Resetting the default font using the Font dialog box (Ctrl + D) often resolves this inconsistency.

How do I remove direct formatting from a table in Word?

Select the entire table and press Ctrl + Spacebar. This shortcut removes any manual character formatting you have applied and forces the text to inherit the baseline properties defined by the underlying table style.

Can I apply a specific font size to all tables in my document at once?

Yes, you can globally modify the 'Table Normal' style or your specific custom table style. Open the Styles pane, locate the table style you are using, right-click it, and select 'Modify' to set a universal font size for all tables utilizing that style.

Does the 'Normal' style dictate table font sizes?

By default, tables inherit their base font settings from the document defaults, which are closely tied to the Normal style. If the document default is changed independently without updating the Normal style, it breaks the inheritance chain, causing table styles to ignore custom font sizes.

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