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How to Merge and Split Cells in a Google Docs™ Table

Merge table cells for headers that span columns, split cells back apart, and avoid the common pitfalls — a quick guide to cell merging and splitting in Google Docs™.

Travis

Travis

In Google Docs™, merging and splitting cells is a right-click away: select adjacent cells and choose 'Merge cells', or right-click a single cell and choose 'Split cell' to divide it into a grid of smaller cells.

Merged cells are what turn a plain grid into a readable layout — a title row spanning the whole table, a category label covering three rows, a two-line header. Here's how to do both operations, and what to watch out for.

Merge cells

  1. Click and drag to select the cells you want to combine. They must be adjacent — side by side, stacked, or a rectangular block.
  2. Right-click the selection and choose Merge cells.
  3. The cells become one; existing content from all merged cells is kept inside it.

To undo the merge later, right-click the merged cell and choose Unmerge cells. The cell divides back along its original grid lines.

Split a cell

Splitting works on one cell at a time:

  1. Right-click the cell you want to divide and choose Split cell.
  2. In the dialog, enter how many rows and columns the cell should be split into (for example 1 row × 2 columns to divide it in half vertically).
  3. Click Split.

This also works on a previously merged cell — handy when 'Unmerge' isn't offered or you want a different layout than the original grid.

Common pitfalls

  • Sorting a table with merged cells can produce odd results, because merged cells break the one-value-per-row assumption. If you plan to sort your table, keep the data area free of merges and only merge cells in header rows.
  • Copying tables with merged cells into Google Sheets™ or other apps often shifts values into the wrong columns — flatten the layout first if the data needs to travel.
  • Selection must be rectangular. If 'Merge cells' is greyed out, your selection probably spans a non-rectangular area or crosses an existing merged cell.

Formatting after the merge

Merged header cells usually want centered, bold text and a background color. You can set those manually via the toolbar and Format > Table, or apply a ready-made look in one click with the free Text To Table Converter Add-On: select the table, then Extensions > Text To Table Converter > Table Styles.

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Text To Table Converter

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Text To Table Converter

Style tables in one click, for free: The free Text To Table Converter add-on includes table style presets and a table editor for Docs™, Slides™, and Sheets™.

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Next Step: Sort Without Breaking Your Header