Want to make a table in Canva?
There’s lots of reasons why you might need to!
Tables play a big part in all kinds of graphics. Maybe you want an infographic with data on it.
Or you need to highlight information in a presentation.
Maybe you’re creating printables, and want an empty table that people can fill in when they print the page.
But Canva doesn’t have a dedicated table creator, unless you’re making a chart.
Whatever the reason, there are 2 main ways to make a table in Canva, and another one that might help depending on the table you want.
Let’s dive into what they are.
How to make a simple table in Canva
The first way to make a simple table in Canva might seem a little long-winded, but once you have the basics in place, it doesn’t take much time.
This works in both the free version of Canva and in Canva Pro.
Start by creating a document in the size you want the finished item. US letter is a popular one, as it’s easy to print out.
Decide how many columns you will want, and if you want them to be the same size, or if some will be a different size than others.
Add a header to your page if you want one.
Next create the first row for the first column. To do this:
- Open the sidebar and go to Elements.
- Find the Square and bring it into your design.
- Change the size and shape of the square into the dimensions required for one row or one column.
- Move it into position to be cell 1 if it was a spreadsheet.
Now that you have the starter of your table, you can copy the cell and move it into position for the second cell.
If they’re going to be the same size, that’s fine. If not, resize as needed.
If you want more than one column, repeat the process again until you have the right number of cells for the columns.
Now select both (or all) of the cells and copy them.
Move the copy into position to be the second row.
You can either keep repeating copying the above row, or you can use your mouse to grab all four cells and copy those, then move into position.
Keep repeating this until you have the right number of rows for the chart you want.
Then if you want more than one page, duplicate the page. You can remove the header if it isn’t needed, grab all the boxes, and center them on the page.
How to tidy up the table
As you duplicate the boxes, they may end up a little out of line.
To tidy them up, grab all the boxes in one column. Then hit the Position tab and use the Tidy Up option.
Repeat for each column to ensure they are all evenly spaced.
How to make a table with lines
The other way to create a table from scratch inside Canva is with the lines feature.
This design type makes for a simple style of table, similar to a spreadsheet, but that you can work with right inside Canva.
To make table columns and rows with lines, go to the Elements tab and select the Lines.
You can use any lines you want for this, but I’ll show you a simple, straight line for this demonstration.
Place the first line at the top of the page or if you want a header, under this.
Then duplicate it and move the second line to the bottom of the table.
Duplicate the line again and rotate it to a 90-degree angle, move to the side, and lengthen it to join the top and bottom.
Then duplicate this line and move to the other side. Now you have the outside lines of your table.
Next you want to create the columns. You may want to reduce the pixel size a touch for them, or leave them the same size as the outer lines. Your choice.
Duplicate the side lines to make your columns, and move them into place.
Next up is the cell. Here you just copy the top or bottom line and move into place to create individual cells.
If you find it hard to move each one into place and have an even space, select all the horizontal lines.
Then select the Vertical option in the Position tab. This will evenly spread them across the gap from the top to bottom.
Use the Tidy Up option to straight them.
You can then add features such as a text box for a header cell, background color, or even cell properties if you want.
How to use a calendar template to make a table
Another way to make a quick table is to grab one from a calendar template.
If you go to templates on the side bar and type “calendar” in the search bar, templates will come up.
Some of these will have editable tables on them you can use. These are often complete with a table border and even a content box or two for additional information.
Since they already have fun design elements, they can be a great basis to make your own printables.
Some won’t be a table style, so scroll until you see one that looks like what you want.
Add the template to your sheet. Delete any elements you don’t need. Then you’re ready to customize to your liking.
Tables for any purpose
Creating tables in Canva allows you to use them for any purpose and not be limited to the options in the Graphs & Charts section of the menu.
You can then make anything from infographics to printables with the exact design that you want.
If you enjoyed learning how to make a table in Canva, please share with your friends and followers!
Disclosure: If you purchase a plan, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
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