Cut, copy, and paste table contents

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to use standard editing commands to move or duplicate cells, rows, and entire tables within your Adobe InDesign document.

Cutting, copying, and pasting table elements in InDesign works similarly to editing regular text, but with additional flexibility for working with cells and entire tables. When you paste cells into an existing table, you can either embed them as a nested table within a single cell or replace existing cells with the pasted content.

Understanding these techniques helps you efficiently reorganize table data, duplicate formatting, and build complex table structures without recreating content from scratch.

Cut or copy text within table cells

Select the text you want to cut or copy within a cell using the Type tool.

Select Edit > Cut or Copy.

Use the Type tool to place the insertion point where you want the text to appear.

Select Edit > Paste.

Cut or copy table cells

Select the cells you want to cut or copy using the Type tool.

Select Edit > Cut or Copy.

To embed the cells as a nested table, place the insertion point in the target cell and select Edit > Paste.

To replace existing cells, select cells in the target table by ensuring sufficient empty cells exist below and to the right, and select Edit > Paste.

Move or copy an entire table

Place the insertion point in the table using the Type tool.

Select Table > Select > Table.

Select Edit > Cut to move the table or Edit > Copy to duplicate it.

Position the insertion point where you want the table to appear and select Edit > Paste.