Pivot Table Issues

How to Show PivotTable Items in Tabular Form in Excel for Mac

Ayan Masood Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to change the layout of an Excel PivotTable to display its items in a tabular format on a Mac device.

How to Show PivotTable Items in Tabular Form in Excel for Mac

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Formatting data presentation in a newly created or existing PivotTable.
Observed behavior: The user wants to transition their PivotTable from the default compact layout to a tabular form to better organize, read, and export the data.

Before you start

Ensure you have a PivotTable already created and populated with multiple row fields in your Excel workbook before attempting to change its layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Change PivotTable Report Layout to Tabular Form

Use the built-in Design tab in Excel for Mac to instantly switch your PivotTable layout to tabular form.

The Tabular layout is ideal for displaying data in a traditional grid format, where each row field has its own column. This makes the data easier to read and copy to other locations.

Select the PivotTable

Click anywhere inside your existing PivotTable to activate the contextual PivotTable tabs on the ribbon.

Navigate to the Design Tab

Look at the top ribbon menu and click on the 'Design' tab, which appears automatically when a PivotTable is selected.

Access Report Layout Options

In the Layout group on the left side of the ribbon, click the 'Report Layout' dropdown button.

Select Tabular Form

Choose 'Show in Tabular Form' from the dropdown menu. Your PivotTable will immediately update to display the new layout.

Change PivotTable Report Layout to Tabular Form

Windows Compatibility: These exact same steps also apply if you are using Excel for Windows.

WPS Spreadsheet

Easily Manage PivotTable Layouts with WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet provides powerful and intuitive PivotTable tools perfectly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats. You can effortlessly switch between compact, outline, and tabular forms to present your data professionally without a steep learning curve.

1. Select PivotTable: Open your workbook in WPS Spreadsheet and click anywhere inside your PivotTable.
2. Open Design Tab: Go to the 'PivotTable Tools' or 'Design' tab on the top ribbon menu.
3. Change Layout: Click 'Report Layout' and select 'Show in Tabular Form' from the dropdown list.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) PivotTables and formatting options.Intuitive ribbon interface that makes finding layout options quick and easy.Lightweight and fast data processing, even for large datasets.Completely free to use for everyday spreadsheet and data analysis tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between compact form and tabular form in a PivotTable?

Compact form displays multiple row fields in a single column with indents to save horizontal space. Tabular form places each row field in its own separate column, resembling a traditional flat data table.

Why is the Design tab missing from my Excel ribbon on Mac?

The Design tab is a contextual tab that only appears when you select an active element. Ensure you have clicked inside a cell that belongs to your PivotTable to make the Design tab visible on the ribbon.

How can I repeat item labels in a tabular PivotTable layout?

After setting your layout to Tabular Form, stay on the Design tab, click 'Report Layout', and select 'Repeat All Item Labels'. This fills the empty cells below grouped items, making the table easier to filter and sort.

Excel & Data Problems