Do you want to create tables in WordPress? If you are looking for a step-by-step guide to complete the task, look no further. This article will teach you how to create tables in WordPress with and without a plugin!

But before going further, let’s see what tables are and when we need them.

What Are Tables

There are three types of tables:

1. Static Tables
2. Dynamic Tables
3. Pricing Tables

Let’s take a look at each option and see how each differs.

1) Static Table

This is the most common table used on the internet.

The idea is pretty simple. You will select how many columns and rows you need. And once you are done, you can start manually entering the data. Once you are done, you can display the data by embedding the table.

2) Dynamic Table

The next table type we have in our list is a dynamic table.

Here, instead of manually entering all the data, the dynamic tables will pull data based on your configuration. For example, if you need to arrange all your online store products, their title, pricing, and category into a single table, these plugins can be used. As you change the title or pricing of the product, the dynamic table will automatically update the content.

This will be a huge help for so many online stores.

3) Pricing Table

As the name suggests, you will display the cost of the tool or service you are offering through these tables. Here’s an example:

A pricing table will contain details of the service and a link to complete the transaction. Several online businesses are using these types of tables.

Why Adding Tables in WordPress Is Good

Using tables in your WordPress website will help you in multiple situations:

• Better readability: If you need to improve the readability of your website, you should use tables. Using tables, you can sort your data efficiently. Some WordPress table plugins also come with sorting, filtering, and search feature. This way, the visitors can find the data you need in a few seconds.
• Organization: Organizing your data with tables are a feasible option. If you are running a comparison blog or something similar, you have to let the visitor know what each tool or service has to offer in terms of the same feature. With tables, you can achieve this task.
• Styling: If you are running an authoritative website or branding, styling the data would be crucial. This will make you look more professional in front of the customers and clients. By setting up a table and styling the rows and columns, you can stand out from the crowd.
• Responsiveness: Many people use mobile phones to use the internet these days. According to Statista, more than five billion people use a mobile phone to browse the internet. So, making your website responsive is mandatory. A dedicated table will help you optimize the data for smaller screens, such as mobile screens.

Now you know why adding tables in WordPress is a good idea. Next, let’s see how to add them correctly.

How to Create Tables in WordPress

You can create tables in WordPress in two ways

• Through Gutenberg editor
• Using a dedicated table plugin

Below, we will show you both methods. Based on your requirements and preferences, choose a method.

1) Using the Gutenberg Editor

Without using a single plugin, you can create tables inside WordPress. Gutenberg comes with a dedicated table block. With it, you can create as many tables as you need. Here’s the step-by-step guide to do it.

First, go to the Gutenberg editor and add the table block.

Explain how many rows and columns you need. Once you have entered the data, click the Create Table button.

Now, you can start adding values.

On the right-hand side, you can also see table settings.

You can

• Adjust the table width
• Create a header section
• Create a footer section

through the settings. Once you have completed the process, save or update the page. After that, check it from the front end; you will see the new table there.

This way, you can create tables in WordPress without using third-party tools or codes. Next, let’s see how to use a plugin for the task.

2) With a Dedicated Table Plugin

There are so many WordPress table plugins available in the market. For this demo, we will be using TablePress.

2.1) Installation and Activation

The first thing you need to do is install and activate TablePress on your website.

2.2) Configuration

Once you have completed the activation, you can see the plugin’s settings on the left-hand side.

By default, you won’t see any tables there. So, click on Add New to create a new table.

There, you need to mention four things.

• Table name
• Description
• Rows
• Column

Once you have filled in those details, click on Add Table.

On the next screen, you will see the table content.

You can enter your table contents there.

As our title said, we will enter details regarding the best WordPress hosting companies in the table. After completing the work, our table would be like this:

You can right-click on the cells to see more configuration options.

Now if you scroll to the bottom, you can see the table manipulation settings.

You can modify the existing rows and columns and add new ones through the table manipulation options. Below that, you will see table options.

You can set up a table header, footer and configure related options from there. Adding a header would be a great idea. So once you have enabled that option, your first row will act like a header. The same goes for the footer. If you allow the footer option, the last row will work like the table’s footer.

Once you have modified the table according to your preferences, save it.

Now it is time to embed the table.

2.3) Embedding

Since TablePress is optimized for Gutenberg, you can use the custom block to embed tables in WordPress. So, open the Gutenberg editor and search for the TablePress block.

From the right-hand side, you can select the table. The search feature in the table selector is convenient.

Within a few seconds, Gutenberg will embed the table.

Now, publish (or update) the blog post or page. If you check the article from the front end, you will see the created table there.

The plugin comes with a basic design. But you can modify it according to your preferences. This will help you keep the table aligned with your brand colors.

That’s it!

This is how you can use a plugin to create a table in WordPress.

Bonus: Best WordPress Table Plugins

The top two plugins in the market you should check are:

• TablePress
• wpDataTables

Let’s take a closer look at each option.

1) TablePress

If you need a faster plugin for managing tables, you should check out TablePress. TablePress is one of the best plugins you can use to create and update tables in WordPress. Since the plugin comes with lightweight code, it will not affect the speed and performance of your website. You can deal with small or large data tables with this plugin.

Since the tool has an in-built import/export feature, you can transfer the data into CSV, HTML, JSON, or XML files. When you need to use the same tabes on different websites, the import/export feature will come in handy. This way, you do not need to manually type the details and spend more time with the table creation.

Inside the cells, you can add any data, like images, links, and math formulas. You do not need to know coding to manage the tables. The plugin comes with an editor that has every feature you need. On top of that, the sorting, pagination, and filtering option available with TablePress is a plus.

Overall, it is a great tool to create tables in WordPress.

Features

• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Import/export
• Easy embedding
• CSS features

Pricing

TablePress is a freemium WordPress plugin. And you can download the lite version from the WordPress plugins repository. The premium subscription starts at $79 a year.

2) wpDataTables

The next plugin we have in our list is wpDataTables. wpDataTables is a popular tool in the market with an Excel-like editor. The plugin is also compatible with most WordPress themes. So no matter which WordPress theme you are using, the plugin won’t cause any compatibility issues. Apart from themes, the plugin is also compatible with most page builders.

Several page builder plugins are available, like Elementor, WPBakery Visual Composer, or even Gutenberg. If you are using any of them to create a stunning website design, you should use wpDataTables to bring charts are tables to the front end. The plugin is also customizable. You can modify the font size, style, family, and so on to match your website’s branding.

Since wpDataTables also has a responsive design, the tables will fit perfectly in every screen size. So whether your visitors are using a desktop, a tablet, or even a mobile phone, the tales will adapt to the screen size. You can add a custom CSS class to the table to improve the customization. This way, you can modify the styling of the table without any hassle.

Features

• Cells merging
• Excel-like editor
• Compatible with most themes
• Page builders optimized
• Font customization

Pricing

wpDataTables is a freemium plugin. The free version is available inside the plugin’s repository. On the other hand, the premium version will unlock more powerful features and cost $59 a year.

If you need to learn more about WordPress table plugins, check out this article.

Conclusion

To improve the user experience and reliability, you should consider using tables in your blog posts and pages. By default, there are two ways to complete the task:

• Using Gutenberg editor
• Through a dedicated plugin

If you do not need a dedicated plugin, go for the Gutenberg method. On the other hand, if you prefer a plugin to manage the tables and deal with them, TablePress would be a good option. However, there are so many table plugins available in the market. You can pick one according to your requirements

We hope you have found this article helpful and enjoyed reading it. If you did, please consider sharing this post with your friends and fellow bloggers on social media. Here are a few articles that you can check to improve your website:

• How to Create a Custom Sidebar in WooCommerce
• How to Embed YouTube Videos in WordPress (with and without Plugins)
• How to Create Licenses in WooCommerce (Step-By-Step Guide)