How to Delete a Page in Word After a Table on Windows

To remove a blank page after a table in Word, show formatting marks with Ctrl+Shift+8, then remove any extra paragraph marks or page and section breaks after the table. If the page exists because Word requires a final paragraph after the table, keep that mark and make it small enough to fit on the preceding page. These steps are for Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; Mac differences are noted below.

This usually happens because Word requires a paragraph after a table at the end of a document. That paragraph cannot be deleted, and it may spill onto a new page if the table fills the page. A separate page break, section break, or ordinary paragraph can also create the apparently empty page. The right fix depends on which mark is there, so inspect the document before changing the layout.

What You’ll Need

The document open in the Word desktop app, preferably with editing enabled.
A moment to check the last page and, if the document matters, a saved copy before changing section breaks or table layout.

Step-by-Step

Check whether the page is really blank. Scroll to the page after the table. If it contains text, a note, or other material you want to keep, do not delete the whole page. Instead, identify what is forcing that content onto a new page and adjust the specific break, paragraph, or table layout.
Turn on formatting marks. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+8, or select Home > ¶ Show/Hide. You will see paragraph marks (¶), page breaks, section breaks, and other normally hidden formatting. These marks do not print. On a Mac, use Command+8 or select the Show/Hide button on the Home tab.
Look immediately after the table. Click at the end of the table or on the page after it. A paragraph mark below the table is normal: Word requires a final paragraph after a table that ends a document. Look for additional paragraph marks, a line labeled Page Break, or a Section Break. The label and position help distinguish the cause; do not assume every mark can be removed.
Remove extra empty paragraphs. If there are one or more empty paragraph marks after the required final mark, click just before an extra mark and press Delete, or click just after it and press Backspace. Remove only the surplus marks. You can also drag across the empty paragraph marks and press Delete, but take care not to select the table or any text you need. Check the page after each change.
Delete a page break only if it is causing the blank page. Click immediately before the visible Page Break label and press Delete, or click after it and press Backspace. If the page break is between the table and the following content, removing it may bring that content up. Confirm that the document still reads and paginates as intended.
Handle a section break cautiously. A section break can control page orientation, margins, columns, headers, footers, or page numbering. Deleting it may make the following section inherit formatting from the section before it. If the blank page is caused by a break labeled Section Break (Next Page), first consider whether the section needs to start on a new page. If it does not, change the break type rather than simply deleting it: place the cursor in the section after the break, open Layout > Page Setup using the dialog launcher, and set Section start to Continuous, if that suits the layout. The dialog arrangement can vary by Word release, and changing section settings can affect layout, so check headers, footers, and page numbering afterward. On Mac, use the Layout tab and its Page Setup controls where available.
If only the required final paragraph remains, make it fit. Click the paragraph mark immediately after the table. Select its paragraph mark without selecting the table; if needed, click just before the mark and hold Shift while pressing the Right Arrow once. On the Home tab, set the font size to 1 pt. Then open the Paragraph dialog from Home > Paragraph using its small dialog launcher, and set spacing before and after to 0 pt. If it still takes a line, set line spacing to Exactly and enter 1 pt. Be cautious: the mark is still required, and selecting the table instead could change the table’s formatting. On Mac, the font-size box is on Home; paragraph spacing options are available through Format > Paragraph or the Paragraph controls, depending on the version.
Check the table if the tiny paragraph still spills over. A table that ends at the bottom edge of a page may leave no room for the final mark. Reduce unnecessary space in the table instead of deleting the required mark. Select the table and check for oversized cell margins, paragraph spacing inside cells, or a row that cannot split across pages. In Table Properties, review the Row settings and, where suitable, allow rows to break across pages. Avoid shrinking text below a readable size just to force the page away.
Confirm the result and save. Press Ctrl+End to go to the end of the document and inspect the last page. On Mac, use Command+End where supported; on some keyboards, Command+Fn+Right Arrow moves to the document end. Turn off formatting marks with the same shortcut you used to show them. Check the page count, the table, and any following section, then save the document.

Common Mistakes

Trying to delete Word’s required final paragraph. Word will not let you remove the paragraph after a final table. The practical solution is to format that mark so it takes less space, or make room by adjusting the table.
Deleting a section break without checking what it controls. This can change orientation, margins, columns, headers, footers, or page numbers in the next section. Change the section start type or preserve the break when those settings matter.
Pressing Backspace repeatedly without showing marks. This can remove table content or formatting without revealing the cause of the extra page. Turn on Show/Hide first and work on the visible mark.
Assuming every blank page is caused by the table. A manual page break, section break, or paragraph setting may be responsible. Inspect the page and the marks before changing table dimensions.
Reducing the whole table’s font or margins unnecessarily. First try adjusting the final paragraph or a specific excess space. Broad formatting changes can make a document harder to read and may affect more pages than intended.

Tips

Make one change at a time, then look at the page again. This makes it easier to undo the change that caused an unwanted layout shift.
Use Ctrl+Z on Windows, or Command+Z on Mac, if a change produces an unexpected result. Save a copy before experimenting with section breaks in a document with complex formatting.
When you can see a paragraph mark but cannot easily select it, zoom in or use the arrow keys from the end of the table. The goal is to select the mark only, not the last cell or the whole table.
After fixing the page, inspect the document in Print Layout and, if the final appearance matters, use Print Preview. Pagination can look different if the paper size, printer settings, or margins change.
Keep the final paragraph mark. Hiding formatting marks afterward makes the document look clean without removing the structural mark Word needs.

Troubleshooting

The page is still there after I delete an empty paragraph. Turn Show/Hide back on and look for a page break, section break, or another paragraph mark. If only the required mark after the table remains, follow the small-font and paragraph-spacing steps above. Also check whether a table row or cell content is forcing the table to the next page.

The blank page disappears, but the next section’s layout changes. Undo immediately. You likely removed or altered a section break that carried formatting. Restore it, then change its section-start setting only if a continuous section is appropriate. Check orientation, headers and footers, and page numbering before saving.

The final paragraph mark will not stay on the table’s page. Set its font to 1 pt and paragraph spacing to zero. If that does not work, inspect the table’s bottom margin, cell padding, and paragraph spacing. You can also slightly reduce table height or page margins when the document’s design allows it. Do not delete the required mark or make the table text unreadably small.

I cannot see a break label. Make sure Show/Hide is on and that you are in Print Layout. Click near the start of the blank page and use the arrow keys to move through the hidden structure. If the page contains a page number, header, or footer but no body text, check the section settings; it may be an intentional odd-page or even-page section break.

The steps differ on my Mac. The main distinction is the shortcut for formatting marks: use Command+8 instead of Ctrl+Shift+8. Ribbon and dialog names may be arranged differently between Mac builds, so use the Home tab’s Show/Hide and paragraph controls, and look under Format or Layout for paragraph and page setup options. The underlying rule about Word’s required final paragraph after a table is the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete the paragraph mark after a table in Word?

No. Word requires a paragraph after a table at the end of a document. You can make it smaller, reduce its spacing, or make room by adjusting the table, but the mark itself cannot be removed.

Why does a table create a blank page?

If the table reaches the bottom of the page, Word may push its required final paragraph onto a new page. An extra empty paragraph, a page break, or a section break can also create the page, so show formatting marks to identify the cause.

Will deleting a section break remove the blank page?

It may, but it can also change the next section’s layout and headers or footers. If the break is needed, change its start type only when appropriate instead of deleting it, and check the resulting pages carefully.

How do I delete a page that has text after the table?

Do not delete the whole page if you need its content. Inspect the marks around the text and remove only an unwanted break or empty paragraph. If the text is pushed down by the table, adjust the table or paragraph spacing.

Does this method work in Word for Mac?

Yes. The same formatting principle applies. Use Command+8 to show or hide marks on Mac, then inspect the paragraph, page break, or section break. The ribbon and dialog locations can differ slightly from Windows.

Will a hidden formatting mark print?

No. Paragraph marks and break labels shown by Show/Hide are editing aids and do not print. Turn them off with the same shortcut or the Home tab’s Show/Hide button if you prefer a clean editing view.

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