How to Reduce Spacing Between Rows in a Word Table
Question details
The user wants to eliminate unwanted empty gaps between rows in a Word document table to keep content closer together.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting a newsletter or document where text and images are placed in separate table rows, but the vertical spacing between the rows is too large.
- Observed behavior
- Excessive empty space appears between table rows, pushing photos and preceding text apart even when the rows are adjacent.
Turn on paragraph marks (formatting symbols) to ensure there are no hidden blank lines or accidental 'Enter' keystrokes inside your table cells.
Adjust Paragraph Spacing and Cell Margins
Resolve extra row spacing by setting paragraph spacing to zero and reducing the default top and bottom cell margins.
Table row height is primarily determined by three factors: the paragraph spacing applied to the text inside the cell, the line spacing, and the internal cell margins. Adjusting these settings will pull your rows seamlessly together.
Click anywhere inside your table. Go to the 'Layout' tab under Table Tools, click 'Select' on the left side of the ribbon, and choose 'Table' to highlight all rows.
Navigate to the 'Home' tab. Click the dialog box launcher (the small arrow in the bottom right corner) in the Paragraph group. Under Spacing, set both 'Before' and 'After' to 0 pt.
In the same Paragraph settings window, change the 'Line spacing' dropdown to 'Single'. Click 'OK' to apply the changes.
Go back to the 'Layout' tab under Table Tools and click 'Properties'. In the Table Properties dialog, click the 'Options' button at the bottom. Change the 'Top' and 'Bottom' default cell margins to 0, then click 'OK'.
Easily Manage Table Spacing with WPS Office
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for adjusting table layouts, formatting cells, and managing row spacing precisely. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents, making it easy to create perfectly aligned newsletters.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the table you want to format.
- 2. Access Table Properties: Click anywhere inside the table, navigate to the 'Table Tools' tab, and select 'Table Properties'.
- 3. Adjust Options: Click 'Options' in the Table Properties window and set the Top and Bottom cell margins to 0 cm.
- 4. Remove Paragraph Spacing: Highlight the table content, go to the 'Home' tab, click 'Settings' in the Paragraph section, and set spacing before and after to 0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't the space between my table rows decrease even after setting margins to zero?
You may have a fixed row height applied. Highlight the rows, right-click, select 'Table Properties', go to the 'Row' tab, and uncheck 'Specify height' or change it from 'Exactly' to 'At least'.
Can I adjust the spacing for just one specific row instead of the whole table?
Yes. Instead of selecting the entire table, simply highlight the specific cells or row you want to adjust. Then, apply the paragraph spacing or cell margin changes through Table Properties > Cell > Options.
How do I keep my photos from moving when I adjust table row spacing?
Ensure your images are inserted with the 'In Line with Text' wrapping style. This anchors the image securely inside the table cell as a text character, preventing it from floating out of place when adjusting row dimensions.
