About the ASCII Table Generator
Some places only show plain text: code comments, README files, terminal output, plain-text emails and chat messages. A table drawn with lines and corners keeps columns readable there. Paste cells copied from a spreadsheet, or a CSV, and this tool draws the table for you. Pick plain plus-and-dash lines, thin box-drawing lines, double lines, a Markdown-like layout or no lines at all, choose left, centre or right alignment and decide whether the first row gets a separator line. Every column is padded to the widest cell, so it lines up in any fixed-width font. The drawing is done in your browser.
Updated October 2026
How to use the ASCII Table Generator
- 1Copy cells from a spreadsheet or paste a CSV into the left box.
- 2Choose a style: plain, lines, double lines, Markdown style or no lines.
- 3Choose how the text is aligned in the cells.
- 4Decide whether to draw a line under the first row and between every row.
- 5Copy the table and paste it into your document, using a fixed-width font to see it aligned.
Where plain text tables are useful
Developers paste tables into pull request descriptions, docs and source code comments. Support teams add them to plain text emails. People who share results in chat apps or forums often want a grid that stays readable without formatting. A drawn table shows rows and columns clearly with nothing but keyboard characters.
Because everything is plain text, it can be copied anywhere, saved with a .txt extension and read decades later.
Choosing a look
Use plain lines when the table might pass through old software or a system that mangles non-ASCII characters. Use the line-drawing styles for modern terminals and editors, where they look closest to a printed table. Choose no lines for a light column layout that still lines up.
Drawing a line under the first row separates headings from data. A line between every row helps when cells are long, but makes the table taller.
- Plain: + - |
- Lines: ┌ ─ │
- Double: ╔ ═ ║
- Markdown style: pipes and dashes
Tips
Keep cells short, because a very wide table wraps in narrow windows and breaks the picture. Remove blank rows before you paste. If the table is for a Markdown document, the Markdown Table Generator makes a version that renders as a real table on GitHub and similar sites. If you want a table with pipes for a README, switch to the Markdown Table Generator, and tidy the rows first with the Text Columns Formatter. Spreadsheet rows can be prepared with CSV Tools first, and the Text Columns Formatter lines up plain text into even columns.
Features
- Five table styles
- Left, centre or right alignment
- Optional line under the header row
- Optional line between every row
- Accepts spreadsheet cells and CSV
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an ASCII table from a spreadsheet?
Select the cells in your spreadsheet, copy them, and paste them into the left box. The tool reads the tab-separated cells and draws the table straight away. You can also paste a CSV.
Which style should I choose?
Plain plus-and-dash lines work everywhere, even on very old systems. Box-drawing lines look cleaner in modern terminals and editors. Double lines add emphasis. Markdown style is useful for README files that render as Markdown.
Why does my table look misaligned?
Text tables only line up in a fixed-width (monospace) font, such as the one in a terminal or code editor. In a proportional font, letters have different widths and the columns drift. Paste it into a code block.
Does it handle wide characters like emoji or Chinese text?
The tool pads by character count, so characters that display double width may push a column out of line in some fonts. For such text, check the result in the place where you will use it.
Can I align numbers to the right?
Yes. Choose right alignment and the numbers in each column will end under each other, which makes amounts easier to compare.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The table is drawn by code running in your browser tab, and your cells are not uploaded.