Formatting Issues

How to Keep Word Table Formatting When Pasting into SharePoint

Khadija Khan Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users struggle to maintain the original formatting of complex Word tables when pasting them into the Text web part of a SharePoint page.

How to Keep Word Table Formatting When Pasting into SharePoint

Product: Microsoft Word, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting a complex Word table into an internal SharePoint team site page.
Observed behavior: Complex layouts, such as merged cells or uneven columns, lose their formatting or fail to stretch properly because browsers do not fully support Word-specific formatting code.

Before you start

Determine if your table is simple (uniform rows and columns) or complex (merged cells, specific widths). Simple tables can often be pasted directly and adjusted, whereas complex tables require saving as an image to preserve their exact layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Paste the Complex Word Table as an Image

The most reliable method to keep exact layouts, especially for tables with merged cells and uneven columns, is to insert the table as an image.

Because SharePoint runs in a browser environment, it uses HTML/CSS to render content. Microsoft Word uses application-specific formatting code that cannot be fully translated into standard HTML tables upon pasting.

Copy the table from Word

Select the entire table in your Microsoft Word document by clicking the crosshair icon in the top-left corner of the table, then press Ctrl + C to copy it.

Convert to an image

Open a new blank Word document or an image editor. Right-click the page and select 'Paste as Picture' from the Paste Options. Alternatively, take a high-quality screenshot of your table.

Insert into SharePoint

Navigate to your SharePoint page, click 'Edit', and place your cursor inside the Text web part. Paste the image directly into the web part.

Resize the image

Click on the inserted image to reveal its sizing handles. Drag the corner handles to stretch or resize the table image so it fits the available space appropriately.

Paste the Complex Word Table as an Image

Solution 2

Use PowerPoint or Paint to Format the Table Image

If pasting directly into SharePoint doesn't work or the image requires cropping, use an intermediary program to refine the picture before uploading.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While browser limitations in SharePoint affect table pasting from any word processor, using a lightweight and highly compatible suite like WPS Office can streamline your daily document creation. WPS Writer offers excellent compatibility with Microsoft Word formats, ensuring your complex tables and layouts look perfect before you export or share them.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Free and lightweight, consuming minimal system resources.Familiar user interface for a zero-learning-curve transition.Advanced table formatting tools to easily create and manage complex layouts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Word tables lose their formatting when pasted into SharePoint?

SharePoint uses a web-based Text web part that relies on HTML and CSS. Browsers often cannot interpret the complex, application-specific formatting code that Microsoft Word uses to construct tables (like uneven columns or merged cells), leading to broken layouts.

Can I paste a simple Word table into SharePoint without converting it to an image?

Yes, if the table is simple (without merged cells or varied column widths), you can usually paste it directly into the SharePoint Text web part and manually adjust the columns. However, complex tables are best inserted as images.

How do I resize a table image once it's inside SharePoint?

After inserting the table as an image into the SharePoint Text web part, click on the image to reveal its sizing handles. Click and drag the corner handles to stretch or shrink the image until it fits your page layout perfectly.

Is there a way to keep a pasted SharePoint table editable?

To keep the table editable, you must paste the text directly and use SharePoint's native table tools to reconstruct the layout. If you paste it as an image to preserve a complex layout, the text will no longer be editable inside SharePoint.

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