Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Adjusting Table Row Height.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 2, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Word allows you to independently adjust the height of every row in a table. For many table uses, you can rely on Word to select an automatic row height. There may be other times when you want to take charge and specify your own row height. You can do so by following these steps if you are using Word 97 or Word 2000:
In Word 2002 and Word 2003, the steps are slightly different:

Figure 1. The Row tab of the Table Properties dialog box.
You can also adjust row height by using the mouse, as described in other issues of WordTips.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1667) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Adjusting Table Row Height.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Word can adjust the height of individual rows in a table based on the information you put in each row. This may not ...
Discover MoreDo you need a quick way to format your tables? Believe it or not, there are several tools you can use from Word's arsenal ...
Discover MoreWhen working with tables (particularly those created by others), you can spend a large amount of time getting the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-12-30 04:25:45
MCT
Sometimes it's not possible to reduce the height of a row or rows because of the font size set within the rows. Setting the font size to a really low value will often resolve this, even if there is no text in the row or cells affected.
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments