Formatting Issues

How to Move a Table to the Right in Microsoft Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to adjust a Microsoft Word table's position by moving it away from the left page margin and further to the right.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adjusting table placement and alignment within a document layout.
Observed behavior: The table needs to be shifted horizontally to the right side of the document page.

Before you start

Ensure your document is set to Print Layout view so you can accurately observe the page margins and the table's exact placement as you move it.

Solution 1Recommended

Drag the Table Move Handle

The quickest and most intuitive way to manually adjust table placement.

Microsoft Word features a built-in handle specifically designed for moving tables freely across your document canvas.

Reveal the table handle

Hover your mouse cursor anywhere over the table until a small square icon with a four-headed arrow appears in the top-left corner.

Click and drag

Click and hold the four-headed arrow icon, then drag the mouse to the right to reposition the table.

Release to place

Release the mouse button once the table is at your desired horizontal location.

Solution 2

Adjust Position via Table Properties

Best for situations where you need exact horizontal measurements and precise alignment.

Solution 3

Use Paragraph Indentation

Quickly shifts the table by standard indentation increments without changing text wrapping settings.

Efficient Document Formatting

Easily Align and Move Tables with WPS Writer

Moving, resizing, and aligning tables is incredibly simple with WPS Writer. As a comprehensive alternative to Microsoft Word, WPS Office provides precise formatting controls completely free of charge.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your table.
2. Hover to reveal handle: Hover your mouse over the top-left corner of the table until the crosshair move handle appears.
3. Drag to the right: Click and hold the handle, then drag the table smoothly to the right margin.
4. Refine alignment: Alternatively, right-click and use 'Table Properties' in WPS Writer for exact, millimeter-perfect horizontal positioning.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word .doc and .docx formatsFree, lightweight, and fast office suiteIntuitive drag-and-drop table managementPrecise alignment and text-wrapping controls

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I freely drag my table in Word?

If your table snaps back into place when you try to drag it, it is likely because its text wrapping is set to 'None'. To drag it freely, right-click the table, select 'Table Properties', and change the Text wrapping setting to 'Around'.

How do I center a table instead of moving it to the right?

To center a table horizontally, click the table move handle to select the entire table, navigate to the Home tab, and click the Center alignment button in the Paragraph group.

Can I move multiple tables at once in Word?

No, the table move handle only allows you to select and move one table at a time. If you have multiple tables, you must adjust the position of each one individually.

Will moving a table affect my document's text layout?

It depends on your text wrapping settings. If text wrapping is set to 'Around', moving the table will cause the surrounding text to automatically re-flow around its new position. If set to 'None', it will push paragraph text up or down.

Document & File Issues