How to Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet (6 Methods)

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Frequently, you might need to convert the Word table to Excel for various purposes. In this article, I’ll show you 6 methods, which include tricks for a simple table as well as a complex table, to convert the Word table to Excel spreadsheet.


How to Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet: 6 Quick Methods

Assuming that you have a table like the following one in your Word document. Here, the Sales Report of Fruit Items is given along with the necessary information i.e. Product ID, Fruit Items, Unit Price, and Sales in USD.

Dataset

Now, you need to convert the above table into an Excel spreadsheet program using the following methods. The first 5 methods are suitable for converting a simple table. And the rest method is handy for converting a complex table.


1. Use Copy and Paste Tool

In the beginning method, I’ll show you the simple method using the copy and paste tool to convert the Word table to Excel. Please follow the below steps.

  • Click over the upper-left arrow of the table for selecting the entire table.
  • Then, right-click and choose the Copy option from the Context Menu.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Copy and Paste Tool

  • Next, go to the Excel spreadsheet and select any cell within the workbook e.g .B2 cell. Lastly, choose the Paste option from the Clipboard ribbon(in the Home tab).

Copy and Paste Tool

Finally, you’ll get the following output.

Copy and Paste Tool

After necessary formatting and adjusting the column width, the output will look as follows.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Copy and Paste Tool

Read More: How to Convert Word to Excel with Columns


2. Using Keyboard Shortcut

If you’re accustomed to using the keyboard shortcut, you can follow this method.

  • Just, click over the upper-left arrow and press CTRL + C to copy the entire table.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Apply Keyboard Shortcut

  • Then, go to the Excel spreadsheet and press CTRL + V to paste the copied table.

Apply Keyboard Shortcut

Eventually, you’ll get the following output.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Apply Keyboard Shortcut


3. Drag and Drop Word Table to Excel

Instead of pressing any key or tools, you may copy the word table to Excel quickly! All you need to do is drag the table and drop it to the desired place. Follow the procedures to understand the process.

  • Firstly, bring the word and Excel side by side.
  • Secondly, drag the word table and drop the table into any specific cell within the spreadsheet.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Drag and Drop the Word Table to Excel

So, you’ll get the following output.

Drag and Drop the Word Table to Excel

After applying the formatting, the output will look as follows.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Drag and Drop the Word Table to Excel


4. Convert Word Table to Excel with Formatting

Sometimes, you may have predefined formatting in your Excel spreadsheet. And, you need to keep the formatting after copying the Word table.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Convert Word Table to Excel with Formatting

  • Initially, copy the word table (pressing CTRL + C).
  • Later, choose the Match Destination Formatting paste option.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Convert Word Table to Excel with Formatting

So, the output will be as follows where the formatting has also prevailed.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Convert Word Table to Excel with Formatting

Read More: How to Convert Word to Excel but Keep Formatting


5. Apply Convert to Text and Text to Columns Features

Apart from these methods, you may convert the table to text in Word and then copy the texts into Excel.

  • Primarily, select the table and click on the drop-down list of the Data option in the Layout tab. Then, select the Convert to Text option.

Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

  • Later, you’ll see a dialog box namely Convert Table To Text where you have to choose any delimiter (e.g. Commas). And, press OK.

Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

  • Then, you’ll get the following output and you need to save this output as a .txt file. To do this, go to File > Save As.

Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

  • Now, specify the format as Plain Text and click over the Save button.

Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

If you open the text file using the Notepad, you’ll see the following output.

  • So, select the texts and copy them by pressing CTRL + C.

Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

  • Then, go to the Data tab > pick the Text to Columns option from the Data Tools tab.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features

After Converting text to Excel with columns, you’ll get the following output.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet Apply Convert to Text and Columns Features


6. Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

If you have line breaks in your word table, you cannot convert such a type of table to an Excel spreadsheet using the above-discussed methods. For example, relevant information (i.e. Full Name, State, and Email) of Sales Rep is given as shown in the below table.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

Now, if you use the copy and paste tool, you’ll get the following output where the cells are split.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

Let’s explore why the cells are splitting. If you turn on the Show/Hide ¶ (Pilcrow character)  from the Home tab in the Word document, you’ll see the Pilcrow character for every line break.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

However, you need to convert the table in Excel without splitting. Do the following steps.

  • While working in Word document, press CTRL + H first to open the Find and Replace dialog box. Alternatively, you can open the dialog box from the Home tab > Replace option (from the Editing ribbon).
  • Later, insert the Paragraph mark (^p) in the box after the Find what option and -line break- after the Replace with option.
  • Lastly, press the Replace All button.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

Immediately, you’ll see the following message.

Find and Replace Tool

And, the output will be as follows.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

  • Now, copy the entire table and paste it into any cell within the Excel spreadsheet.

Paste the Copied Table

  • Again, open the Find and Replace dialog box tool in Excel (simply you can press CTRL + H).
  • Then, insert -line break- after the Find what option and press CTRL + J to insert a line break in the space after the Replace with option.
  • At last, pick the Replace All button.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

  • Furthermore, select the B5:B9 cells and choose the AutoFit Row Height from the Format option.

Convert Word Table to Excel without Splitting Cells

Eventually, you’ll get the following output.

Convert Word Table to Excel Spreadsheet without Splitting Cells

Read More: How to Copy from Word to Excel into Multiple Cells


Things to Remember

  • While pasting the Word table in Excel, make sure that the cells are empty. Because the copied table will replace any existing data.
  • While using the Text Import Wizard, remove the unnecessary space inside the text file.

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Conclusion

That’s the end of today’s session. I firmly believe that you can easily convert a Word table to an Excel spreadsheet using the above methods. Anyway, don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section below.


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Md. Abdul Kader
Md. Abdul Kader

Hi! I am Abdul Kader and presently working as ‘Excel & VBA Content Developer’ at Exceldemy. I publish my articles related to Microsoft Excel here. In 2019, I completed my graduation in Urban and Regional Planning from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Having extreme eagerness to learn, I want to develop my skills and capabilities higher.

6 Comments
  1. Really helped me out to convert a large Word table full of paragraph breaks, the sixth method really did a neat job. Thanks a lot.

  2. Really hepful. Thank you

    • Dear Ven Upekkha,

      Thanks for your appreciation.

      Regards
      Shamima Sultana | Project Manager | ExcelDemy

  3. I have Word text sections that are linked. I want to retain the links in Excel. But they are gone!

    This applies when a word text contains two links (separated by a tab). If it has one link, then the link also appears in Excel

    • Reply Avatar photo
      Naimul Hasan Arif Jun 12, 2023 at 3:45 PM

      Dear GRAHAM,
      I am using Office365 and I am getting my links retained from word to Excel. You can send us your file to have more clear solution.
      Regards,
      Naimul Hasan Arif

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