Tables are a useful way to organize and present data in Word documents. However, sometimes you may want the structure and layout functionality of a table without the borders showing. For example, you might use an invisible table to align images and text on a page.
Making a table’s borders invisible in Word is easy to do. Here are step-by-step instructions for creating invisible table borders using Word’s built-in table formatting options.
Table of Contents
Why Make Table Borders Invisible
There are a few reasons why you may want to make table borders invisible in a Word document:
- Cleaner look – Removing borders can give your document a cleaner, more modern look and highlight the actual content rather than the table structure.
- Subtle organization – Invisible table borders allow you to organize content in rows and columns without detracting from the content itself.
- Background formatting – An invisible table can be used as a guide for formatting the background of a section of your document.
How To Make Table Borders Invisible
Making table borders invisible in Word only takes a few clicks. Here are the steps:
Select The Table
- Click anywhere in the table to select it.
- The “Table Tools” ribbon should appear on the top menu.
Remove Borders
- Go to the “Design” tab under “Table Tools”.
- Click the drop-down arrow next to “Borders”.
- Select “No Border” to remove borders from the entire table.
Alternatively, you can select a specific border line and choose “No Border” to remove only that border.
View Gridlines (Optional)
- With all borders removed, you may want to turn on gridlines temporarily as you work with the table to see the rows and columns.
- Go to the “Layout” tab under “Table Tools”.
- Check the box for “View Gridlines”.
Tip: Gridlines will not print, so you can leave them on to help you organize content in an invisible table.
Customizing Invisible Table Borders
You have a few options for customizing an invisible table layout:
- Remove borders from individual cells as needed
- Adjust cell padding to control spacing
- Add visible borders to specific sections to divide content
- Turn gridlines on or off
Experiment with these options to get the exact invisible table structure you need.
When To Use An Invisible Table
Here are some common uses for invisible tables in Word documents:
Align Images and Text
Invisible tables allow you to align images and text perfectly. Rather than trying to get everything to line up using tabs and indents, place images and text in table cells without borders.
Organize Sections
Use an invisible table to visually organize content into sections, with a different section in each row or column. The table structure keeps everything neatly aligned.
Format Backgrounds
Apply background colors, gradients or images to table cells to create distinct content sections without visible borders between them.
Line Up Form Elements
Tables can help align form elements like text boxes and checkboxes cleanly on the page. Remove the borders so the form elements stand out visually.
Tips for Working With Invisible Tables
- Turn on gridlines while working in a table to identify the rows and columns. Just remember to turn them off before printing.
- Apply borders selectively to some cells and not others to divide content visually if needed.
- Adjust cell padding to fine-tune the spacing around and between cells. More padding can prevent content from feeling crammed together.
- Use the “Distribute Rows” and “Distribute Columns” options to quickly make rows and columns the same size. This helps content align properly.
- Feel free to add or remove columns and rows as needed – the lack of borders makes this easy to do as your content changes.
Conclusion
Invisible tables offer a powerful yet subtle way to organize, align, and visually divide content in Word documents. By following the simple steps above, you can quickly remove borders from any existing table. Take advantage of customization options like selective borders, cell padding, and gridlines to get the exact structure you need.
Whether you want a super clean modern look or need help aligning images and text, invisible tables can do the job without detracting from the actual content. So next time you need to organize sections or line up form fields, try using an invisible layout table.
