Tables are a great way to organize information in Google Docs. But sometimes, after inserting a table, it appears left-aligned by default. If you want your document to look more polished, centering the table is a simple and effective solution.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to center a table in Google Docs, along with tips for adjusting table width and alignment for a professional look.
Why Center a Table in Google Docs?
Centering tables improves the visual appeal and readability of your document:
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Professional formatting: Makes tables look neat in reports and essays.
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Balanced layout: Prevents a cluttered appearance with left-aligned tables.
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Better presentation: Useful for sharing or printing documents.
Step 1: Open Your Google Docs Document
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Open Google Docs in your browser.
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Open the document containing the table you want to center, or create a new table by clicking:
Insert → Table → Select the desired number of rows and columns.
Step 2: Select the Table
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Click anywhere inside the table.
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You should see a small square handle at the top-left corner of the table. Clicking this handle will select the entire table.
Step 3: Open the Table Properties
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With the table selected, right-click anywhere inside the table.
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From the context menu, select Table properties.
This opens a panel on the right side of your document where you can adjust table alignment, dimensions, and cell settings.
Step 4: Center the Table Horizontally
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In the Table properties panel, find the Alignment section.
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Under Table alignment, select Center.
Your table will instantly move to the center of the page horizontally.
Step 5: Adjust Table Width (Optional)
If your table is very narrow, centering it may look odd. To make it more balanced:
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In Table properties, go to Column width or Table width.
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Increase the width to better fill the page.
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Make sure Table alignment remains set to Center.
Step 6: Center Text Inside Table Cells (Optional)
For a polished look, you may also want to center the text inside each cell:
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Select the cells you want to format.
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Click the Center align button in the toolbar (or go to Format → Align → Center).
This ensures both the table and its contents are perfectly centered.
Tips for a Professional Table Layout
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Use consistent column widths for a clean appearance.
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Add padding to cells for readability (Table properties → Cell padding).
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Use borders wisely — light borders look cleaner than heavy ones.
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Avoid overcrowding — keep tables simple and easy to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I center a table on mobile Google Docs?
Yes. Tap the table, then choose Table → Table properties → Alignment → Center.
2. Can I also center vertically on the page?
Google Docs does not natively support vertical centering of tables. You can adjust spacing manually using empty paragraphs above the table.
3. Can I combine centering and resizing columns?
Absolutely. Center the table first, then adjust column widths in Table properties for a balanced look.
Final Thoughts
Centering a table in Google Docs is a simple but powerful way to improve the visual appeal and professionalism of your documents. By using the Table properties panel and adjusting cell alignment and width, your tables will look neat, organized, and ready for sharing or printing.
Properly centered tables make your document more readable and give it a polished, professional finish.