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How to Align Text in Table in PowerPoint? [Complete Guide!]

How to Align Text in Table in PowerPoint? [Complete Guide!]

When creating tables in a PowerPoint presentation, the most challenging part is aligning text in the table to look presentable and fit the cells perfectly. But is it really that tough? Let me share a few quick ways to align your text in tables to simplify this task.

To align text in a table in PowerPoint, start by selecting the text you want to align. Then, click on the “Home” tab, and under the “Paragraph group” click the alignment option required (i.e. Left, Right, Center, Justify).

In this article, we dig deeper into the various other options we have to align text in a table, within a cell, how to rotate the text, etc. This detailed article will cover all your alignment questions.

So let’s get reading!

1. How to Vertically Align Text in a Table in PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can align the text in tables both horizontally and vertically. You can either use the “Text Direction” option or the Alignmentoption.

1.1 Top Alignment

To set the text of a cell inside a table in PowerPoint, you have to first select the text. When the selected text is highlighted (in gray), continue as below:

Step-1: Click on the “Text Direction” option

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the Home” tab. In the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” menu, you have to now click on the “Text Direction” icon, which looks like the letter A with two down arrows. Then click on “More Options” in the dropdown menu under the “Text Direction” option.

Step-2: Click on the “Vertical Alignment” box

In the Format Shapesidebar on the right side of the screen, click on the box next to the “Vertical Alignment” option. Then, click on the “Top” option from the dropdown menu to align the selected text to the top of the cell.

1.2 Middle Alignment

To change text alignment to the middle or center of the table cell in PowerPoint, you can use the “Layout” contextual tab for tables. Then move to the following steps:

Step-1: Click on the “Layout” tab

The first step is to select the text within a cell which you want to align to the middle vertically. Then, in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “Layout” tab.

Step-2: Click on the “Center Vertically” icon

In the “Alignment” group of the “Layout” contextual tab, click on the “Center Vertically” icon, which is the second icon in the second row of the grow. Clicking on the “Center Vertically” icon will align the selected text to the vertical middle of the table cell. (Refer to the image under Step 1)

1.3 Bottom Alignment

In PowerPoint, you can quickly change text alignment in a table to the bottom of the cell. Here’s how you can do it.

Step-1: Click on the “Layout” tab

In the table inserted in a PowerPoint slide, you must first select a text that you want to align to the bottom. Then click on the “Layout” tab in the menu ribbon.

Step-2: Click on the “Align Bottom” icon

The next step is to click on the “Align Bottom” option, which is the third icon in the second row of the “Alignment” group of the “Layout” tab. This will align the selected text to the bottom of the cell. (Refer to the image under Step 1)

2. How to Horizontally Align Text in a Table in PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint offers four horizontal alignment options that are easily accessible through the “Home” tab. The alignment options are “Left”, “Right”, “Center” and “Justify”.

2.1 Left Alignment

To align text to the left within a table in PowerPoint, you first have to select the text. Then, click on the “Align Left” option in the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” tab to select the left alignment for the text. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+L” keys on your keyboard.

2.2 Right Alignment

You can easily align the selected text within a table in the slide to the right of the cell. All you have to do is click on the “Align Right” icon which is the third icon in the bottom row of the “Paragraph” group in the “Home” tab. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+R” keys on your keyboard to align the text to the right.

2.3 Center Alignment

In the table inserted to a slide, highlight the text that you want to align to the center. Then all you have to do is click on the “Center” option in the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” tab. You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+E” keys on your keyboard to align the selected text to the center of the table cell.

2.4 Justify Alignment

The “Justify” alignment evenly distributes the text between the left and right margins. To justify alignment to your selected text, all you have to do is click on the “Justify” option in the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” tab.

3. How to Change Rotate Text in a Table in PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, the “Text Direction” feature allows you to rotate the text within a slide in PowerPoint. Using the feature, you can also rotate texts in tables.

3.1 Rotate Text Using the Change Text Direction Tool

To rotate text, first, select the text in the table. Then click on the “Text Direction” option in the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” tab. From the dropdown menu, select your preferred rotation angle.

3.2 Stack Text in a Cell of a Table in PowerPoint

To stack text in a cell, click on the “Text Direction” option in the “Home” menu. In the dropdown menu under the “Text Direction” option, click on the “Stacked” option to stack the selected text in a table cell.

3.3 How to Change Text Direction 45 Degrees in PowerPoint Table?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you cannot use the “Rotate” feature directly to change the text direction at your preferred angle. But you can do so by first creating a separate text box. When you select the text box a new “Shape Format” tab opens in the ribbon.

Here you will select the “Arrange” option. Under the dropdown menu, go to the “Rotate” option and select “More Rotate Options”. The “Format Shape” sidebar will appear (as seen above). Enter the desired angle at which you want to rotate the text box and then drag it to a cell inside the table.

4. How to Center Align Text in Table Columns in PowerPoint?

In a column of a table in a PowerPoint slide, you can align all the text together. The first step is to select the entire column. Then all you have to do is click on the “Align Center” option in the “Paragraph” group of the “Home” tab. You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+E” keys on your keyboard.

5. How to Center Align All of the Table Content Horizontally and Vertically?

To center align all of the table content horizontally and vertically, you have to first select all the text inside the table and click on the “Layout” tab. In the “Alignment” group of the “Layout” tab, click on the “Center” option from the top row and the “Center Vertically” option from the bottom row.

6. How to Align the Table to the Center of the Slide?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to align objects with respect to the slide. To align a table to the center of a slide, follow the steps mentioned below.

Step-1: Click on the “Layout” tab

Click on the table inside the slide. Then click on the “Layout” tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Click on “Align Objects”

In the “Arrange” group of the “Layout” tab, click on the “Align Objects” option. Then select the “Align to Slide” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Align Center” option

Now all you have to do is click on the “Align Center” option in the dropdown menu under the “Align Objects” option to align the selected table at the center of the slide.