Format Tables

Learning Outcomes

  • Format tables in slides

Once a table is created in a PowerPoint slide it needs formatting to match a presentation or emphasize an aspect of its information. Here is how to format various areas of a table.

In a slide with a table inserted, click on the table and two new menu tabs appear; Table Design and Layout.

PowerPoint screenshot of open presentation with a new slide and the new empty table inserted into slide.

Table Design tab offers a variety of formatting and style options for a PowerPoint table. Here’s how to use some of those options.

PowerPoint screenshot Table Design tab.

Table Style

Change a table’s style by hovering over the colored tables or clicking the down arrow to see table style options. The options are organized into Light, Medium, and Dark table colors. Select the style format by click on it and the table is automatically changed to the new style in the slide.

PowerPoint screenshot of Table Design tab showing all the table style choices in a drop-down menu.

Best Match for Document

If you are unsure what style works best with the presentation, use the Best Match for Document option in the drop-down menu on the top right.
PowerPoint screenshot of Table Design tab showing best match of  table style choices in a drop-down menu.

Practice Question

Style Options

Other format and style options available for tables include shading, borders and effects. If a table needs to be formatted with different borders, click the down arrow on the Borders button and select the border style for the table.

PowerPoint screenshot of Table Design tab showing border options in drop-down menu.

Text

To change text format in a table use the WordArt button in the Table Design tab.

PowerPoint screenshot of Table Design tab showing WordArt options in drop-down menu.

Border

Change a table’s border thickness, color, or pattern by selecting those options in the Draw Borders group under the Table Design tab.

PowerPoint screenshot of Table Design tab showing draw border group line thickness options in drop-down menu.

Now you have learned new formatting skills for a PowerPoint table the next is to lean how to modify a table.

PRactice Question

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