Formatting Issues

How to Remove a Large Gap Between Table Cells in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to eliminate an unexplained large gap between cells within a Word table.

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a table in a document where rows or cells are displaying abnormal spacing that cannot be fixed by standard merging.
Observed behavior: A large gap appears between table cells. It is not caused by split tables, and merging cells does not resolve the issue. There are no obvious manual page breaks inserted.

Before you start

Enable formatting marks (Show/Hide ¶) from the Home tab to easily identify hidden page breaks, extra paragraph returns, or invisible spacing issues within your table.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable 'Page Break Before' in Paragraph Settings

If the gap occurs where a table crosses pages, a hidden paragraph setting applied to a specific row might be forcing it onto the next page.

Even if there are no manual page breaks, Word's paragraph settings can force text to jump to a new page. This is a common cause for unexplained large gaps in tables.

Select the affected row

Place your cursor in the table row or cell that immediately follows the large gap (often at the top of a new page).

Open Paragraph Settings

Right-click the selected text and choose 'Paragraph' from the context menu, or click the small launcher icon in the Paragraph group on the Home tab.

Modify Line and Page Breaks

Navigate to the 'Line and Page Breaks' tab within the Paragraph dialog box.

Uncheck Page break before

Ensure the 'Page break before' option is unchecked. Click OK to apply the changes and see if the gap disappears.

Formatting Tip: While in the 'Line and Page Breaks' tab, also check if 'Keep with next' is checked, as this can also pull entire rows to the next page.

Solution 2

Adjust Cell Margins and Paragraph Indentation

Unusual spacing inside or between cells can be caused by large cell margins or paragraph indentation settings.

Format Tables Seamlessly with WPS Writer

Easily Manage Table Formatting with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface and robust table tools to easily adjust spacing, margins, and page breaks without the frustration of hidden formatting gaps.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your Word document.
2. Access Table Tools: Click anywhere inside your table to automatically reveal the 'Table Tools' tab on the ribbon.
3. Adjust Properties: Click the 'Table Properties' button to instantly adjust cell margins, row heights, and table alignment.
4. Show Formatting Marks: Toggle the 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' icon under the Home tab to spot and delete unwanted page breaks or paragraph returns.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc).Intuitive Table Tools tab for quick margin and spacing adjustments.One-click 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' to easily troubleshoot layout issues.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative for document editing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a huge gap at the bottom of a page in my Word table?

This usually happens when a row is too large to fit on the current page and 'Allow row to break across pages' is turned off. To fix this, right-click the table, select Table Properties, go to the Row tab, and check 'Allow row to break across pages'.

How do I remove the white space inside a single table cell?

Excessive white space inside a cell is often caused by paragraph spacing. Select the text inside the cell, open the Paragraph dialog, and set the 'Before' and 'After' spacing to 0 pt. Also, check the cell margins in Table Properties.

Does the 'Keep with next' setting affect table gaps?

Yes. If the 'Keep with next' or 'Keep lines together' paragraph settings are applied to multiple rows, Word may push those rows to the next page to keep them together, creating a large, unfillable gap on the previous page.

How can I merge two split tables back together?

Delete any paragraph marks, empty lines, or page breaks between the two tables. Once the empty space between them is removed, Word will automatically snap and merge the two tables together.

Document & File Issues