How to create a table in Excel – our step-by-step guide (with pictures)

Get your data in order and looking sharp with tables

Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

Last Updated on May 8, 2024
Logo of Microsoft Excel featuring a large green "x" on a set of green tables, with "pcwer" logo in the top left corner on a pink background.
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If you want to learn how you can convert your data into a table in Excel, then we’ve got you covered.

Microsoft Excel is a great tool for creating well-designed tables to showcase your data and results, but not everyone knows how to do it. This is mainly because the option is hidden behind a layer of settings. Tables can prove to be useful in multiple situations, so it’s important for you to learn how to make them.

To help you out, we’ll go over the entire process of creating a table in Excel.

How you can create a table in Excel

Step

1

Gather your data

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have all the data you need and want to display in a table.

Then, you need to start organizing it into groups. This is so that you don’t end up overlapping different types of data in the same column.

When you have decided on your columns, you can start to fill the headings on your Excel spreadsheet.

Next, fill in each row with your data until you have a table of results. It should look something like this:

Spreadsheet displaying tables in Excel of running shoe models and their corresponding weights in ounces, listed under columns named after various individuals from kan to cassie.
Data sorted

Step

2

Select the data

The next thing you need to do is select the cells that you want to include in the table. If you want to include the entire sheet, press CTRL + A.

Step

3

Create a table

After you have selected the data, go to the Insert tab and click on ‘Table.’

Screenshot of tables in Excel with a "table" button highlighted by a red arrow, displaying rows of data under headers like "model" and "brand.
Table button in Excel

In the Create Table menu, make sure to check the ‘M table has headers’ box and click ‘OK’.

Screenshot of an Excel software interface showing a 'create table' dialog box with options to specify data range, select if the table has headers, and buttons for 'ok' and 'cancel'.
Create Table menu

Your table will be then successfully created.

Image of a spreadsheet in Excel with rows labeled with phone models and columns titled with names, displaying numerical data on screen brightness in different models.
Table created in Excel

Step

4

Change the table style

If you don’t like the default look of the table, you can change it from the Table Design tab, which automatically appears after you create a table and select it.

From here, you can choose from different Table Styles and select the one that suits your requirements.

Table design in Excel
Table design tab

Conclusion

This was how you can turn your data and results from isolated cells on an Excel spreadsheet into a complete table. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can swap out the ugly Excel format for one that you can proudly use and present to others. It’s very easy to do as long as you follow the above instructions.

Learn more about Excel and its functions through these guides:

Kevin is the Editor of PCWer. He has a broad interest and enthusiasm for consumer electronics, PCs and all things consumer tech - and more than 15 years experience in tech journalism.