Merging cells combines two or more boxes into one larger box

When you merge cells in a table, Word combines the separate boxes into a single larger box. This is useful when you want a heading to span across multiple columns, or when you need one cell to take up the space of several smaller ones. The process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.

Merging works the same way in Word on Windows and Word on Mac. You select the cells you want to combine, then use the Table Design menu to merge them. The text from all selected cells stays in the merged result — Word doesn't delete anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the cells you want to merge by clicking the first cell and dragging to the last one, or by holding Shift and clicking the corners.
  • Open the Table Design tab in the ribbon, then click the Merge Cells button in the Merge group.
  • Text from all selected cells combines into the merged cell, so delete unwanted text afterward if needed.
  • You can unmerge cells later by selecting the merged cell and clicking Split Cells in the same menu.

Select the cells you want to merge

Click inside the first cell you want to include in the merge. Then hold down your mouse button and drag to the last cell you want to merge. All cells between the first and last will highlight in blue, showing they are selected.

If dragging is awkward, use the keyboard instead: click the first cell, then hold Shift and click the last cell. Word selects all cells in the rectangle between those two corners. This method works whether the cells are in a row, a column, or a block.

Open the Table Design tab and click Merge Cells

With your cells selected, look at the ribbon at the top of Word. You should see a tab labeled Table Design (on Windows) or Table (on Mac). Click it. The ribbon changes to show table-specific options.

In the ribbon, find the group labeled Merge. Inside that group is a button labeled Merge Cells. Click it. Word when ready combines all your selected cells into one. The borders between them disappear, and the cell now spans the space they occupied.

What happens to the text in merged cells

When you merge cells that contain text, Word keeps all the text. It places the text from the first cell, then adds the text from the second cell, then the third, and so on. The text runs together with no space between, so "Name" and "Address" become "NameAddress".

After merging, click inside the merged cell and clean up the text. Delete the unwanted words, add spaces or line breaks where you need them, and type any new content. Treat it like any other cell — the merged cell works exactly the same way as a regular one.

Merging cells in a header row

A common use is merging cells in the top row to create a title that spans the whole table. Select all the cells in the top row, click Merge Cells, then type your title. The title now stretches across all columns.

You can also merge just some cells in the header. For example, merge the first three cells to create a "Personal Information" heading, then merge the next two cells to create a "Contact Details" heading. Each merged section can have its own label.

Unmerging cells if you change your mind

Click inside the merged cell you want to split. Open the Table Design tab again. In the Merge group, click Split Cells. A dialog box appears asking how many rows and columns you want the cell split into.

Type the number of columns and rows, then click OK. Word divides the merged cell back into separate boxes. Any text in the merged cell stays in the first cell of the split result — the other new cells are empty.

Merging cells in complex table layouts

You can merge cells in any pattern — rows, columns, or irregular blocks. Word doesn't require the merged cells to form a perfect rectangle, though most tables work better when they do. If you try to merge cells that don't form a rectangle, Word may split them differently than you expect.

If you need a very complex layout with cells of different sizes, consider whether a table is the right tool. Sometimes separate tables stacked on top of each other, or a different document structure, works better than trying to force an irregular shape into one table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I merge cells diagonally across a table?

No. Word only merges cells that form a rectangle — a continuous block of rows and columns. You can merge cells in an L-shape or other patterns, but Word interprets them as the smallest rectangle that contains all selected cells, which may include cells you didn't intend to select.

What happens to the cell borders when I merge?

The borders between merged cells disappear. The outer border of the merged cell remains. If you want borders inside the merged cell, you can add them manually by selecting the cell, right-clicking, choosing Borders and Shading, and selecting the border style you want.

Can I merge cells in a table I copied from another document?

Yes. The merge process works the same way regardless of where the table came from. Select the cells, open Table Design, and click Merge Cells. The table structure doesn't matter — only the cells you select.

If I merge cells, can I undo it?

Yes, two ways. when ready after merging, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo. Or click inside the merged cell later, open Table Design, and click Split Cells to divide it back into separate boxes.

Do merged cells affect how the table prints?

No. Merged cells print exactly as they appear on screen. The merged cell takes up the space of all the cells it replaced, so the table layout on paper matches what you see in Word.