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Key Takeaways

To cener text, you will need to both horizontally and vertically align it. Center text horizontally by selecting the Type Tool and selecting "Align Center" under Paragraph. To center text vertically, you will need to adjust the Vertical Justification setting in the Cell Options window.

Adobe InDesign has so many sophisticated features that even something as seemingly simple as centering text in a table can feel overwhelming. There aren't many steps required, but the vertical and horizontal alignment options are in two separate places.

Related: What Is Adobe Creative Cloud, and Is It Worth It?

Horizontally Center Text in a Table

The option to horizontally center your text in a table is easy to locate. First, open the InDesign file that contains the table with the text in it, and then select the "Type Tool" option (the "T" icon) in the left-hand pane.

The Type Tool option.

Next, select the cells you would like to center the text in. You can select cells by clicking and dragging your mouse over them.

Selected cells in a table.

In the right-hand pane, you'll be in the "Properties" tab. Locate the "Paragraph" group and select the "Align Center" option.

Center alignment option.

If your cell has a lot of text, you can also choose to justify each line and center the last line of text within the cell. Select the cell and then choose the "Justify with Last Line Aligned Center" option.

Justify and center align option.

The selected text will be center aligned, horizontally.

Center aligned text.

Related: How to Curve Text in Adobe Photoshop

Vertically Center Text in a Table

The option to center align text vertically in a cell of a table is a little more hidden. First, select the "Type Tool" option (the "T" icon) in the left-hand pane.

The Type Tool option.

Now select the cells in the table you'd like to vertically center the text in by clicking and dragging your cursor over them.

Selected cells.

Click "Table" in the header menu, hover your cursor over "Cell Options" in the drop-down menu, and then select "Text" from the sub-menu.

Click Table and Cell Options.

The Cell Options window will appear. In the "Vertical Justification" group, select "Align Center" from the Align drop-down menu. Click "OK" to apply it to the selected text.

Center alignment option.

The text is now vertically aligned in the cells.

Center aligned text.

That's all there is to it. After you format the text, tables, and designs within the InDesign file, you can save it and send it out as a PDF---just be sure your PDF presets are correct for the PDF type before you do.

Related: How to Set Up a PDF Preset in Adobe InDesign