How to Make a Table in Markdown (Syntax, Alignment and a Free Generator)

Tables are the one part of Markdown that’s awkward to type: pipes, dashes, and a layout that falls apart as soon as one cell gets longer. They’re still worth having, in README files, documentation and notes. This guide explains how they work, and how to skip the typing with the free Markdown Table Generator.

Markdown table syntax

A table is made of lines of text. Pipes (|) separate the columns, and a line of dashes (---) separates the heading row from the rest:

| Plan     | Users | Price |
| -------- | ----- | ----- |
| Free     | 1     | $0    |
| Team     | 10    | $29   |
| Business | 50    | $99   |

Three rules are all you need:

• The first line is always the heading row.
• The second line must have one group of dashes for each column. Three dashes per column is enough.
• Leave a blank line before the table, or some readers won’t recognise it.

Tables aren’t part of the original Markdown. They come from GitHub-flavoured Markdown, which GitHub, GitLab and most modern tools support. A very strict Markdown reader may show them as plain text.

The spaces are optional

Lining up the columns only makes the plain text easier to read. This shorter version looks exactly the same once it’s displayed:

| Plan | Users | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | 1 | $0 |
| Team | 10 | $29 |
| Business | 50 | $99 |

How to align columns

Colons in the dashes line set the alignment of each column:

• :--- aligns left.
• :---: centres.
• ---: aligns right, which suits prices and other numbers.

| Plan     | Users | Price |
| :------- | :---: | ----: |
| Free     |   1   |    $0 |
| Team     |  10   |   $29 |
| Business |  50   |   $99 |

Pipes and line breaks inside a cell

A | inside a cell would start a new column, so write it as \|. A table cell also holds just one line, so a line break is written as <br>, which GitHub shows as a new line within the cell:

| Command | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| a \| b | Pipe in a cell |
| Line one<br>Line two | Two lines |

Bold, italics, links and `code` all work inside cells as usual. Lists and code blocks don’t, because they need more than one line.

How to build a table without typing the pipes

1. Open the Markdown Table Generator. Sample fills in an example.
2. Type in the cells; the first row is the heading row. Enter moves down, and + Row and + Column add more.
3. Use the menu above each column to choose Left, Centre or Right.
4. Check the result, then click Copy or Download.

Two options change how the Markdown looks as plain text, but not how it’s displayed:

• Line up columns adds the spaces that make the text tidy. Turn it off for shorter Markdown.
• Pipes at the edges starts and ends each line with |. Both forms work on GitHub.

How to turn Excel or Google Sheets into a Markdown table

Select the cells in your spreadsheet and copy them. Click a cell in the generator and paste: the cells fill in from there, and rows and columns are added as needed. You can also click Open file or drop a CSV or TSV file onto the tool. It handles up to 500 rows and 26 columns.

How to edit a table you already have

Open or drop an .md file, or paste the Markdown table into a cell. The first table found is loaded into the grid with its alignment, so you can add a column or reorder the text without counting pipes.

More Markdown tools

• README Generator: make a complete README, then add your table. See how to write a good README.
• Markdown to HTML: get the table as an HTML table for your website.

Frequently asked questions

Can I merge cells in a Markdown table?

No. Markdown tables have no merged cells. If you really need them, use an HTML table, which GitHub also accepts.

Can a Markdown table have no heading row?

Not on GitHub: the heading row is required. If you don’t want headings, leave those cells empty.

Is my table uploaded?

No. It’s built in your browser and never leaves your device. Editing is free; copying or downloading the Markdown counts as one use of your daily allowance.