Formatting Issues

How to Prevent Cell Height Changes When Merging Table Cells in Word

Adam Davis Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to stop table row heights or adjacent cells from changing unexpectedly after merging cells in a document.

How to Prevent Cell Height Changes When Merging Table Cells in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Modifying table layouts by merging cells to format a document.
Observed behavior: Merging cells alters the row height or adjacent cell widths slightly, disrupting the table's uniform layout and alignment.

Before you start

Before adjusting the table properties, click the Show/Hide ¶ icon on the Home tab to reveal hidden formatting marks, and delete any extra paragraph breaks inside the cells you plan to merge.

Solution 1Recommended

Set an Exact Row Height via Table Properties

Locking the row height to an "Exact" measurement prevents the table from automatically resizing when cells are merged.

By default, Word tables are set to automatically adjust their height to fit the text inside. When merging cells, the combined text formatting or layout calculations can force the row to expand. Forcing an exact row height overrides this automatic behavior.

Select the affected row

Highlight the row containing the merged cells or the cells you are about to merge.

Open Table Properties

Right-click the selected cells and choose "Table Properties" from the context menu.

Configure row height

Navigate to the "Row" tab in the Table Properties dialog box.

Set height to Exactly

Check the box for "Specify height", enter your desired height measurement, click the dropdown menu next to "Row height is", and select "Exactly".

Apply changes

Click "OK" to close the dialog box and apply the fixed height to your merged cells.

Set an Exact Row Height via Table Properties

Tip: If you have multiple rows with merged cells causing layout issues, you will need to select all affected rows and apply the 'Exactly' setting to all of them at once.

Solution 2

Disable Automatic Resizing for the Entire Table

Turning off the AutoFit feature ensures that the table maintains its overall structure regardless of merged cells or content changes.

Manage Tables Easily with WPS Writer

Format Tables with Precision in WPS Office

WPS Writer offers advanced and intuitive table formatting tools that make merging cells and controlling row heights straightforward. Enjoy precise layout control without unexpected resizing or formatting glitches.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the table you want to modify.
2. Merge the cells: Highlight the cells you want to combine, right-click, and select "Merge Cells" from the menu.
3. Access Table Properties: Right-click the merged row and select "Table Properties".
4. Set exact height: Go to the "Row" tab, check "Specify height", set the value, and choose "Exactly" from the dropdown menu, then click "OK".

100% compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx)Intuitive table property controls to lock row heights preciselyFree, lightweight, and fast document processingSeamless text wrapping and cell alignment features

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word table cell height increase when I merge cells?

This usually happens because the merged cell accommodates text wrapping, hidden paragraph marks, or Word's default "AutoFit" settings that automatically adjust the row height to comfortably fit the combined contents of the cells.

Can I lock the size of a table in Word so it doesn't move?

Yes, you can lock a table's size by opening "Table Properties," clicking the "Options" button under the Table tab, and unchecking "Automatically resize to fit contents." For further stability, manually specify the exact row heights and preferred column widths.

Does AutoFit work properly on merged cells in Word?

AutoFit behavior can be unpredictable with merged cells, often leading to uneven row heights or widened columns. It is highly recommended to disable AutoFit and set exact row heights manually if your table layout relies heavily on merged cells.

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