How to Apply Background Colors to Tables in Word

What to Know

New table: Create a table, go to Table Design, and select a border style, size, and color. Select Border Painter to color cells.
Existing table: Right-click the cells, select Borders and Shading > Shading > Fill, and choose a color. Select Apply to > Cell or Table.
Or, go to the Design tab, select Page Borders > Shading > Fill, and choose a color. Select Apply to > Cell or Table.

This article explains how to apply a background color to an entire table or to specific portions of a table in Microsoft Word, adding emphasis or making a complex table easier to read. Instructions cover Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.

Want to Change the Display Color of a Whole Word Document? This Will Help

Add a Table With Shading

To create a new table and color it before entering data into it:

On the ribbon, go to the Insert tab and select the Table drop-down arrow.
Drag the cursor across the grid to choose how many rows and columns you want in the table.
On the Table Design tab, select a border style, size, and color.
Select the Borders drop-down arrow and choose the borders you want to apply. Or, select Border Painter to draw on the table to indicate which cells should be colored.

Animated illustration of changing excel cell colors — Lifewire / Kyle Fewel

Add Color to a Table With Borders and Shading

To format an existing table with a background color:

Highlight the cells you want to tint with a background color. Use the Ctrl key to select non-contiguous cells.
Right-click one of the selected cells.
Select Borders and Shading.
Select the Shading tab.
Select the Fill drop-down arrow to open the color chart, then choose a background color.
Select the Style drop-down arrow, then choose a tint percentage or a pattern in the chosen color.
Select the Apply to drop-down arrow, then choose Cell to apply the chosen color only to the highlighted cells. Or, choose Table to fill the entire table with the background color.
Select OK.

Add Color With Page Borders Design Tab

To use the Design tab to add any color to a table:

Highlight the table cells to which you want to apply the background color.
Select the Design tab.
In the Page Background group, select Page Borders.
Select the Shading tab.
Select the Fill drop-down arrow, then choose a color from the color chart.
Select the Style drop-down arrow, then choose a percentage of tint or a pattern.
Select the Apply to drop-down arrow and choose Cell to add the background tint to the selected cells. Or, choose Table to fill the entire table with the background color.

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