Table
Use the table component to make information easier to compare and scan for users.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Dates and amounts</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Date</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Amount</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">First 6 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 33 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Total estimated pay</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£4,282.20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Dates and amounts",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Date"
},
{
text: "Amount"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "First 6 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 33 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Total estimated pay"
},
{
text: "£4,282.20"
}
]
]
}) }}When to use this component
Use the table component to let users compare information in rows and columns.
When not to use this component
Never use the table component to layout content on a page. Instead, use the grid system.
How it works
Table captions
Use the <caption> element to describe a table in the same way you would use a heading. A caption helps users find, navigate and understand tables.
There are other styling options for table captions. You can use govuk-table__caption--s, govuk-table__caption--m, govuk-table__caption--l and govuk-table__caption--xl classes to make them larger or smaller from the default.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--l">Months and rates</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Month you apply</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Rate for vehicles</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">January</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£95</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">February</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£55</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">March</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£125</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Months and rates",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--l",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Month you apply"
},
{
text: "Rate for vehicles"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "January"
},
{
text: "£95"
}
],
[
{
text: "February"
},
{
text: "£55"
}
],
[
{
text: "March"
},
{
text: "£125"
}
]
]
}) }}Table headers
Use table headers to tell users what the rows and columns represent. Use the scope attribute to help users of assistive technology distinguish between row and column headers.
There are 2 ways to use the table component. You can use HTML or, if you are using Nunjucks or the GOV.UK Prototype Kit, you can use the Nunjucks macro.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Dates and amounts</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Date</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Amount</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">First 6 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 33 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Total estimated pay</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£4,282.20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Dates and amounts",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Date"
},
{
text: "Amount"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "First 6 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 33 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Total estimated pay"
},
{
text: "£4,282.20"
}
]
]
}) }}Numbers in a table
When comparing columns of numbers, align the numbers to the right in table cells.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Months and rates</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Month you apply</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header govuk-table__header--numeric">Rate for bicycles</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header govuk-table__header--numeric">Rate for vehicles</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">January</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£85</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£95</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">February</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£75</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£55</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">March</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£165</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell govuk-table__cell--numeric">£125</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Months and rates",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Month you apply"
},
{
text: "Rate for bicycles",
format: "numeric"
},
{
text: "Rate for vehicles",
format: "numeric"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "January"
},
{
text: "£85",
format: "numeric"
},
{
text: "£95",
format: "numeric"
}
],
[
{
text: "February"
},
{
text: "£75",
format: "numeric"
},
{
text: "£55",
format: "numeric"
}
],
[
{
text: "March"
},
{
text: "£165",
format: "numeric"
},
{
text: "£125",
format: "numeric"
}
]
]
}) }}Custom column widths
You can use the width override classes to set the width of table columns.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Month you apply</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header govuk-!-width-one-half">Date</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header govuk-!-width-one-quarter">Rate for vehicles</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header govuk-!-width-one-quarter">Rate for bicycles</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">First 6 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£59.10 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 33 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£159.80 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£89.10 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Total estimated pay</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£4,282.20</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£2,182.20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Month you apply",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Date",
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-half"
},
{
text: "Rate for vehicles",
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-quarter"
},
{
text: "Rate for bicycles",
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-quarter"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "First 6 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
},
{
text: "£59.10 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 33 weeks"
},
{
text: "£159.80 per week"
},
{
text: "£89.10 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Total estimated pay"
},
{
text: "£4,282.20"
},
{
text: "£2,182.20"
}
]
]
}) }}If the width override classes do not meet your needs you can create your own width classes and apply them to the cells in the table head. These can be added using the classes option in the Nunjucks macro or adding the class directly to the individual cells within govuk-table__head as below.
To learn more about this, read guidance on extending and modifying components in production.
<table class="govuk-table">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Month you apply</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header app-custom-class">Date</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header app-custom-class">Rate for vehicles</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header app-custom-class">Rate for bicycles</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">First 6 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£109.80 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£59.10 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 33 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£159.80 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£89.10 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Total estimated pay</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£4,282.20</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£2,182.20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Month you apply",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
head: [
{
text: "Date",
classes: "app-custom-class"
},
{
text: "Rate for vehicles",
classes: "app-custom-class"
},
{
text: "Rate for bicycles",
classes: "app-custom-class"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "First 6 weeks"
},
{
text: "£109.80 per week"
},
{
text: "£59.10 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 33 weeks"
},
{
text: "£159.80 per week"
},
{
text: "£89.10 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Total estimated pay"
},
{
text: "£4,282.20"
},
{
text: "£2,182.20"
}
]
]
}) }}Tables with a lot of data
If possible, you should aim to have less data in your tables. If you have a lot of data, try to organise it into multiple tables or multiple pages.
If you cannot split your data, you can use the CSS class govuk-table--small-text-until-tablet. This class reduces the size of the text on small screens so large amounts of data has more empty space around it. This makes it easier to visually differentiate between each piece of data when read on small screens.
The CSS class govuk-table--small-text-until-tablet is only available in version 5.2 of GOV.UK Frontend and later.
Read about updating your service to use the new type scale.
You should not use this class on tables unless your table has a lot of data, because a smaller amount of data is easier to read if the text is larger.
<table class="govuk-table govuk-table--small-text-until-tablet">
<caption class="govuk-table__caption govuk-table__caption--m">Dates and amounts</caption>
<thead class="govuk-table__head">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Date</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">First amount</th>
<th scope="col" class="govuk-table__header">Second amount</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="govuk-table__body">
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">First 3 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£27.45 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£33.90 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 6 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£27.45 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£33.90 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 24 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£27.45 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£33.90 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Next 33 weeks</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£27.45 per week</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£33.90 per week</td>
</tr>
<tr class="govuk-table__row">
<th scope="row" class="govuk-table__header">Total estimated pay</th>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£4,282.20</td>
<td class="govuk-table__cell">£5,288.40</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>{% from "govuk/components/table/macro.njk" import govukTable %}
{{ govukTable({
caption: "Dates and amounts",
captionClasses: "govuk-table__caption--m",
firstCellIsHeader: true,
classes: "govuk-table--small-text-until-tablet",
head: [
{
text: "Date"
},
{
text: "First amount"
},
{
text: "Second amount"
}
],
rows: [
[
{
text: "First 3 weeks"
},
{
text: "£27.45 per week"
},
{
text: "£33.90 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 6 weeks"
},
{
text: "£27.45 per week"
},
{
text: "£33.90 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 24 weeks"
},
{
text: "£27.45 per week"
},
{
text: "£33.90 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Next 33 weeks"
},
{
text: "£27.45 per week"
},
{
text: "£33.90 per week"
}
],
[
{
text: "Total estimated pay"
},
{
text: "£4,282.20"
},
{
text: "£5,288.40"
}
]
]
}) }}Help improve this component
To help make sure that this page is useful, relevant and up to date, you can:
- take part in the ‘Table’ discussion on GitHub and share your research
- propose a change – read more about how to propose changes in GitHub
Tell us if your service uses this component
Take part in our usage survey (opens in a new tab) to help us improve this component to better meet the needs of the services that use it.
Need help?
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