How to Fix Word Table Borders Not Printing

If you're trying to print a Word document that includes tables, but the table borders don't show up on the printed page, you're not alone. This issue can be frustrating, especially if you've spent time formatting your tables carefully. The problem usually occurs because of how Word handles printing settings or how the document is formatted. Let's explore why this happens and how to fix it.

What Causes Word Table Borders Not to Print?

Word table borders may not print for several reasons:

• Print settings are set to "Draft" mode – This reduces ink usage and can hide some formatting details.
• Border color is too light or matches the background – If the border color is similar to the paper or screen, it might look like it's missing.
• Printer driver issues – Outdated or incorrect printer drivers can cause formatting problems.
• Document formatting conflicts – Sometimes, complex formatting or embedded objects can interfere with how borders are rendered during printing.

Solution 1: Check Your Print Settings

This is the fastest and easiest way to resolve the issue. Most of the time, changing the print settings can make the borders appear correctly.

1. Open your Word document and click on File in the top-left corner.
2. Select Print from the menu. A new window will open with print options.
3. Look for the Settings section and click on Printer Properties.
4. In the Printer Properties window, check the Quality or Print Quality option. Make sure it's set to Normal or High, not Draft.
5. Click OK to save the changes and then try printing again.

Solution 2: Adjust Table Border Settings in Word

If changing the print settings doesn't work, the issue might be in how the table borders are formatted within the document. Let's adjust them directly.

1. Open your Word document and locate the table with missing borders.
2. Click on the table to select it. You should see the Table Tools tab at the top of the screen.
3. Go to the Design tab under Table Tools. Look for the Borders section.
4. Click on the Borders dropdown menu and choose All Borders to apply borders to all sides of the table.
5. If the borders still don’t show up, try changing the border color. Click on the color box next to Borders and pick a darker color, such as black.
6. Save the document and try printing again.

Solution 3: Use a Third-Party Tool or Convert to PDF

If the previous solutions don’t work, it might be due to a deeper issue with your Word file or printer. In this case, using a third-party tool or converting your document to PDF can help ensure that your table borders print correctly.

1. Download and install a reliable PDF converter, such as Adobe Acrobat or Smallpdf.
2. Open your Word document and go to File > Save As.
3. Choose PDF as the file type and save the document.
4. Open the saved PDF file and try printing it. This often bypasses any formatting issues that occur when printing directly from Word.
5. If you need to edit the document later, you can convert it back to Word format after printing.

Prevention Tips

To avoid this issue in the future, follow these best practices:

• Always check print settings before printing – Make sure the quality is set to normal or high.
• Use standard colors for borders – Avoid very light or similar-colored borders that might not show up well on paper.
• Update your printer drivers regularly – Outdated drivers can cause formatting issues.
• Test print on different printers – If the issue only happens on one printer, it could be a driver or hardware problem.
• Save a backup copy of your document – This helps you quickly revert to a working version if something goes wrong.

Conclusion

Word table borders not printing can be a common issue, but it’s usually easy to fix with a few simple steps. Start by checking your print settings, then adjust the table borders in Word, and if needed, use a third-party tool or convert to PDF. By following these steps and prevention tips, you can ensure your documents look great both on screen and on paper.