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To merge cells in a desktop Word table, select two or more adjacent cells in the same row or column, then choose Table Layout > Merge Cells. You can also right-click the selected cells and choose Merge Cells. These steps apply to desktop Word; Microsoft cautions that some table features may not be available in Word for the web or mobile apps.
Merge cells in a desktop Word table
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Click inside the table. Select the adjacent cells you want to combine. The cells must be in the same row or the same column.
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Open the contextual Table Layout tab, then choose Merge Cells. The tab appears when you click in a table. Microsoft lists this desktop guidance for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016, including applicable Mac editions. Microsoft Support: Merge or split cells in a table
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If Merge Cells is missing
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Check that you selected more than one cell and that the cells are adjacent in the same row or column. The command may not appear if the selection does not meet those conditions.
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With the cells selected, right-click and choose Merge Cells as an alternate route.
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If table borders are hidden, turn on gridlines to make cell boundaries easier to see. Gridlines help with visibility; they do not change the table’s borders. Microsoft Support: Merge or split cells in a table
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Word for Mac, web, and mobile
On Mac, clicking inside a table reveals the contextual Table Design and Table Layout tabs. Microsoft Support: Insert a table in Word for Mac Microsoft Support: Add or delete rows or columns in a table in Word or PowerPoint for Mac
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Microsoft’s desktop instructions do not establish that the same command or controls are available in every Word for the web or mobile app version. If you cannot find the command in those apps, use desktop Word for the documented workflow.
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Undo a merge
Select the merged cell and choose Table Layout > Unmerge Cells. Microsoft documents the command but does not guarantee that it will restore the exact original distribution of content.
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