Adding tables to WordPress posts and pages comes with a ton of benefits.
They help you:
But how do you create them?
This guide will walk you through how to create tables in WordPress with and without a plugin.
The best part? You don’t need to know HTML or CSS to create one.
Let’s get started.
Method 1: Using the WordPress Block Editor
Using the WordPress block editor (formerly known as Gutenberg) is the fastest and easiest way to add a table in WordPress without a plugin.
The block editor has a table block that allows you to build and insert tables into WordPress posts and pages without editing a line of code.
Here’s how to create tables in WordPress using the block editor.
Once inside the editor, hit the plus (+) icon, and from there, search for “table” and click on the Table block.
Proceed by entering the number of rows and columns to include in your tables and then clicking on the “Create Table” button.
And ta-dah! Here’s your table with 3 columns and 6 rows.
To customize your table to your liking, you can click on the three dots on the toolbar appearing on top of the table and then choose “show more settings”.
A sidebar will appear with all the customization options you want. For example, you can turn on the header section toggle to add a header section to your table.
You can also use the other settings to change your table’s appearance, like changing the table style to a striped layout, the background color, the font color, and so on.
Although it’s not the most visually appealing table, at least the block editor gets the job done. It’s ideal for creating simple and minimalistic table designs.
Now, if you want to create more beautiful tables with more customization options, you’ll need a table builder plugin.
Here’s how to create tables in WordPress using a plugin.
Method 2: Create Tables in WordPress Using a Plugin
A WordPress table plugin enables you to build attractive and more sophisticated tables.
You get access to more features like adding buttons, rating stars, and even a pool of table templates that you can easily customize to your liking.
There are a ton of table plugins that you can use out there. But in this section, I will show you how to create tables in WordPress and add them to your posts using two of the best plugins.
Let’s get started.
1. Build Tables in WordPress using the WP Table Builder Plugin
WP Table Builder is a drag-and-drop table plugin that allows you to create tables in WordPress using seven elements.
Using the table plugin, you can create different table types like product tables, comparison tables, and review lists.
The table is available in both free and paid versions.
Here’s how to build tables in WordPress using the WP Table Builder plugin.
After installing and activating the plugin, click the “WP Table Builder” menu and then “Add New”.
You’ll log in to the table builder interface, where you can start by naming your table and clicking on the plus (+) icon to add a new blank table.
After that, hit on the plus icons to add new columns and rows, as shown below.
Continue by choosing the number of columns and rows you want to add to your table, and then hit the “Generate” button.
From there, you can drag and drop elements to customize your table with the design and layout you want.
For example, you can add a CTA button, a rating star, an image, and a list. You can also change your table’s header background to the color of your preference.
Once done, save your table and then click on the “embed” menu at the top to copy the embed code.
Go back to your WordPress dashboard and paste the code into your post or page where you want to embed your table.
And there you have your beautiful table added to your WordPress blog posts.
2. Create a Table in WordPress using the TablePress Plugin
TablePress is another powerful table plugin that allows you to easily create tables in WordPress.
The plugin features the ability to import and export tables as CSV files, search and filter table data, and customize the look and feel of your tables using custom CSS.
Here’s how to add tables to your WordPress posts or pages using TablePress.
Go to your dashboard after installing and activating the TablePress plugin and select “TablePress” then “Add New Table.”
Enter your table’s general information, select the number of columns and rows, and then hit the “Add Table” button.
A new screen will appear where you can enter the content and data for your table.
Just slightly below your table section, you’ll see a new tab, namely “Table Manupilation.”
You can use this option to customize your table format, like inserting an image.
When done, you can save the changes, copy the table’s shortcode, and add it to the section of your post where you want to insert the table.
Method 3: Using Google Docs to Insert a WordPress Table
Google Docs has a tool to create a table. You can use Google Docs to create simple tables and insert them into your WordPress posts.
Here’s how to do it:
On your Google Docs page, click “insert” followed by “table” and select the number of columns and rows you want your table to have.
Now proceed and add content to your table.
Once done, copy the table and paste it on your WordPress post where you want it to appear.
And there you have your beautiful table inserted into your WordPress post.
The issue with this strategy is that you need more customization choices. As a result, style options are limited.
Furthermore, tables generated in this manner are rarely responsive, especially on mobile devices, and can end up with broken layouts.
I tested the table that I created, and it was barely mobile-responsive.
As you can see, some of the columns were cut off from the screen. And to view the rest of the content, I had to scroll from right to left or pinch the screen to zoom in on the rest of the table cells.
Generally speaking, I wouldn’t recommend adding tables to your WordPress posts or pages using this method.
Which is the best way to create tables in WordPress?
The best way to create tables in WordPress is by using a table plugin. That is because a table plugin has more customization capabilities than you’ll find when using the default table block in Block Editor.
For example, a WordPress table plugin like WP Table Builder allows you to change the background of your table’s rows and columns and add advanced elements like circle ratings, to mention a few. These are all customization options that you’ll never get in Block Editor.
Conclusion
WordPress has various ways to create and add tables to your posts and pages. Depending on the type of table you want to create, you’ll want to choose the method that best fits your needs.
If you want to create a simple table quickly, use the block editor. Tables created using these methods are super fast. You don’t have to install plugins, which helps reduce the overall weight of your site by not installing one.
On the other hand, if you want to create more beautiful and advanced tables, I’d advise installing a WordPress table plugin. The plugins give you access to better tools that can use a customized table that matches your needs.
Here are our top picks for the best WordPress table plugins.
Do you use tables in your WordPress posts? What’s your best method for creating and adding them? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
