How to Create a Table in Adobe Illustrator

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2 simple ways you can create a grid that looks like a table in Illustrator

Co-authored by Shari Fairclough and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: April 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using the Rectangle Tool

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Using the Rectangle Grid Tool

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Expert Q&A

Do you need to create a table in Adobe Illustrator? Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard in graphic design and illustration. It is used to create print ads, brochures, illustrations, logos, and info-graphics. Being able to create a table is essential in info-graphics, along with graphs and charts. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated tool for creating a table in Illustrator. However, you can quickly and easily draw a table using the tools that are available in Illustrator. This wikiHow article teaches you how to create a table in Adobe Illustrator.

Making a Table in Adobe Illustrator

Click the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. Select the rectangle and go to Object > Path > Split Into Grid. Then, select the number of rows and columns you want in the table.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Rectangle Tool

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1
Open or create a new project. To do so, open Illustrator and either click New to create a new project, or click Open and select a saved Illustrator file you want to open.
- When creating a new file, you will need to either select a template or enter the dimension sizes for your paper or project.
It's in the toolbar which is to the left by default. The rectangle tool has an icon that resembles a shaded rectangle.

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3
Click and drag to create a rectangle. It can be any size you want.
- You can resize the rectangle by clicking and dragging the square nodes on the sides of the rectangle outline.
- To create a uniform square, hold Shift while you click and drag.
- It may be easier to add a fill color to your rectangle. This allows you to select a cell by clicking the inside, rather than the edges of the cell. It can be the same color as your paper.
To do so, click the selection tool in the toolbar. It has an icon that resembles a black arrow. Then click the rectangle.
5
Open the "Split Into Grid" dialogue box. You can use this dialogue box to split your rectangle into a grid that resembles a table. Use the following steps to open the "Split Into Grid" dialogue box:
- Click Object in the menu bar at the top.
- Click Path.
- Click Split Into Grid.
6
Enter the number of rows and columns you want. Simply type the number of rows and columns you want in the boxes next to "Rows" and "Columns." You can also click the up or down arrows next to the boxes to adjust the number.
- To see how the table looks, click the checkbox next to "Preview."
To adjust the space between Table Cells, set the “Gutter” values to however many units wide you want the space. You can also adjust the total sizes of your rows and columns.
8
Customize the table. The table will be created, and you can change the color, stroke, or add text in each box.
- Click the edge of any cell with the selection tool. This will allow you to change its fill or stroke color using the swatches palette. The fill color is the inside color. The stroke color is the outline around the cell.^{[1]
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- You can add text to your table by using the text tool.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Rectangle Grid Tool

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1
Open or create a new project. To do so, open Illustrator and either click New to create a new project, or click Open and select a saved Illustrator file you want to open.
- When creating a new file, you will need to either select a template or enter the dimension sizes for your paper or project.
The rectangle grid tool is in the "lines" submenu. To display it, click and hold the line segment tool in the toolbar. It resembles a straight line. Then double-click the icon that resembles a grid in the fly-out menu to open the rectangle grid options menu.
3
Enter the number of vertical and horizontal dividers you want in your grid. This will determine how many rows and columns you have in your table. To determine how many vertical and horizontal dividers you need, enter the number of rows or columns you need and subtract one. Then click Ok.
- For example, if you need three columns, you would enter "2" for the vertical dividers. If you need 6 rows, you would enter "5" for the horizontal dividers.
It's in the "lines" submenu. Click and hold the line segment tool in the toolbar, then click the rectangle grid tool.
5
Click and drag to draw a table. Doing so will create a grid the size of the rectangle that you draw. This will create a grid that looks like a table.^{[2]
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- You can add text to your table by using the text tool.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I draw a table in Adobe Illustrator?

Shari Fairclough
Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.

Shari Fairclough

Social Media & Graphic Design Expert

Expert Answer

You can use the Pen Tool to manually draw the table’s outline and internal lines for a more customized design. Make your table precise by using the Align and Distribute tools. Then, select all elements and group them together to form your customized table by pressing Ctrl+G.

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Question

How do I create a table made up of only horizontal and vertical lines instead of multiple boxes?

Community Answer

You'd be better off with Indesign. Illustrator is not the best tool for what you want to do. If you're determined to try Illustrator, you can follow these steps: 1.) Do as in the tutorial above 2.) Select all boxes and remove their background color. Keep lines property as is. 3.) In "pathfinder" panel, select "outline". (This will strip everything from all the boxes and put them into one group.) 4. Keep everything selected and add color to the stroke. (Just do black.) 5.) Un-group it.

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Question

Can I import tables in Adobe Illustrator?

Community Answer

Yes. You can copy your tables from Word and InDesign directly into Illustrator.

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