Change the Row Height or Column Width

You can change the height of rows or the width of columns to accommodate your table information.

CHANGE THE ROW HEIGHT

1. Click the Print Layout icon () to display the document in Print Layout view.

2. Position the mouse over the bottom of the row ( changes to ).

3. Drag the row edge up to shorten or down to lengthen the row height.

   A dotted line marks the bottom of the row.

4. Release the mouse.

   

   The new row height appears.

   

CHANGE THE COLUMN WIDTH

1. Click to display the document in Print Layout view.

2. Position the mouse over the right side of the column ( changes to ).

3. Drag the column edge right to widen or left or to narrow the column width.

   A dotted line marks the side of the column.

4. Release the mouse.

   

   The new column width appears.

   

   Note 

   When you change the width of a column, the width of the column to its right also changes. When you change the width of the rightmost column, you change the width of the entire table.

You can change row height only when displaying your document in either Print Layout view or Web Layout view. Make sure you select one of those views by clicking the Print Layout icon () or the Web Layout icon ().

Is there an easy way I can make a column the size that accommodates the longest item in it?

Yes, you double-click the right edge of the column. Word widens or narrows the column based on the longest entry in the column.