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Applying a predefined table style is the quick, easy way to change the look of a table in PowerPoint.

A table style is a combination of formatting options, including color and optional shading. The color combinations are derived from the theme colors of the presentation. Any table that you create has a table style applied to it automatically.

Apply a table style

  1. Select the table that you want to apply a new or different table style to.

  2. On the ribbon, select the Table Design tab to see the Table Styles gallery, as shown below, and then select the table style that you want. To see more table styles, click the More drop-down arrow More button on the right of the Table Styles gallery.

    On the Table Design tab, you can choose from many predefined table styles to quickly apply different formatting to a table.

    Note: To change the look of text in a table, select all the text in the table, then select the Home tab and use the Font options to adjust the text.

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  1. Select the table.

  2. On the ribbon, select the Table Design tab.

  3. Select the More drop-down arrow More button on the right side of the Table Styles gallery, then, at the bottom, choose Clear Table.

  1. On the ribbon, select the Table Design tab.

  2. In the Draw Borders group, at the right end, select Eraser.

    The pointer changes to an eraser Eraser used to draw tables.

  3. Click the line that you want to erase. When you're finished erasing, click outside the table.

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  1. Select the table cells that you want to add a border to (or change the border of).

  2. Select the Table Design tab on the ribbon. Select one of the following in the Draw Borders group:

    • Use Pen Color to change the color of the border.

      If you want more color options, under Pen Color, select More Border Colors, then either select the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. (Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme.)

    • Use Pen Weight to change the thickness of the border.

    • Use Pen Style to change the line style of the border.

  3. To apply the color, weight, or line style that you chose in step 2, do one of the following:

    • While the pointer still looks like a pencil Pencil used to draw tables, click the borders that you want to change.

    • Select Table Design > Borders, then select the border option that you want to apply.

Tip: You can use the Eraser to delete borders between table cells. Under Design > Table Tools, in the Draw Borders group, click Eraser, or press and hold Shift while the pointer is a pencil Pencil used to draw tables, then click the borders that you want to delete.

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You can add or change the background color for the whole table. The background color appears underneath any fill color that is applied to the table cells.

  1. Click a cell in the table.

  2. Select the Table Design tab, and then in the Table Styles group, click the arrow next to Shading, and then point to Table Background.

  3. Click the color that you want, or to choose no color, click No Fill.

    To change to a color that is not shown in the Theme Colors list, click More Fill Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme.

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