Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add Tables in Gmail Messages
Adding tables to your Gmail messages can be a great way to organize information visually. However, Gmail does not have a built-in option to insert tables. This article will walk through the easy workaround – using Google Sheets to create a table, copy it, and paste it into Gmail while retaining the formatting.
Why Use Tables in Gmail
Tables allow you to:
- Organize complex information in a structured way
- Compare data side-by-side (like statistics)
- Separate different types of information clearly
- Simplify large amounts of data by arranging it into rows and columns
For example, you could use a table to compare the specs of different products. The table keeps the data neatly organized and easy to scan.
| Product | Price | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product 1 | $100 | 1 lb | 12 x 6 x 3 in |
| Product 2 | $150 | 2 lbs | 12 x 7 x 4 in |
Creating a Table in Google Sheets
To create a table for use in Gmail:
- Open Google Sheets and add a new sheet or open an existing spreadsheet.
- Enter your data into the sheet, formatting it in a table structure with rows and columns.
- Select the table area you want to copy.
- Copy the selected table (Ctrl/Cmd + C on desktop or tap copy icon on mobile).
The key is ensuring your data forms a proper table structure – otherwise the formatting won’t carry over when pasting into Gmail.
Pasting the Table into Gmail
Once you’ve copied the table from Sheets:
- Open Gmail and compose a new message.
- Place your cursor where you want the table to be inserted.
- Right click and select Paste (or use Ctrl/Cmd + V on desktop or tap paste icon on mobile).
- The formatted table will be pasted into your email while retaining the original structure!
One thing to watch out for – if your pasted table looks jumbled, check if Plain Text mode is enabled under Settings. Just tap the undo arrow to remove the messy text and paste again with Plain Text disabled.
Editing the Table in Gmail
The great thing about a table created in Sheets is that you can still edit it within Gmail after pasting.
- To add or remove data, just modify the table cells directly in the message body.
- You can also format the text – change alignment, add bold/italics, modify font size and color, etc.
- Rearrange columns or rows as needed.
So feel free to tweak the table until it’s formatted perfectly for your email.
Conclusion
Although Gmail doesn’t yet allow inserting tables natively, the Sheets workaround is quick and easy. Just build your table in Sheets, copy it, then paste into your Gmail message to organize information in a clean, visual way.
Give it a try and let us know how it works for you in the comments!