Show or Hide Table Gridlines in Word Documents
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)
If you work with tables in Microsoft Word, it's a good idea to show gridlines. Table gridlines don't print but borders do print. If borders are removed from a table, users may not recognize the table if gridlines are not displayed.
Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of Word, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For Word 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Table Tools Design tab may appear as Table Design.
Recommended article: How to Keep a Microsoft Word Table Together on One Page
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Turning gridlines on (or off)
To turn gridlines on or off:
- Click in a table.
- Click the Table Tools Layout or Table Layout tab.
- Click View Gridlines. Gridlines will stay on for all Word documents.
View Gridlines appears on the Table Tools Layout or Table Layout tab when you click in a table:
Once gridlines have been turned on, they will continue to be displayed until you turn them off.
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More resources
How to Create a Table in Word (4 Ways)
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How to Format Microsoft Word Tables Using Table Styles
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10 Microsoft Word Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for Selecting in Tables
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