Anton's Digital Garden

Dos & don't of table design

2 min read

Use tables if you want to enable readers to look up specific information Pasted image 20240827235319.png

Use charts instead of tables if you want to give an overview of your numerical data or show a pattern Pasted image 20240827235325.png

Use tables if precise numbers are important Pasted image 20240827235330.png

Tables are great for data we’re used to reading Pasted image 20240827235333.png

Tables work better than charts if your readers should compare data in two directions Pasted image 20240827235440.png

Tables are great for showing ranks Pasted image 20240827235450.png

How to create better tables

Consider narrowing (down) your columns Pasted image 20240827235501.png

Consider structuring your data so that your table has more rows than columns Pasted image 20240827235521.png

Consider grey stripes for long tables with many columns Pasted image 20240827235531.png

Consider adjusting the row height to the number of rows Pasted image 20240827235544.png

Consider pagination for long tables Pasted image 20240827235553.png

Use colors to lead the reader’s eye to interesting information & help them navigate the table Pasted image 20240827235603.png

If your table contains information which is more relevant to some readers, but less relevant to others, consider making your table searchable & sortable Pasted image 20240827235613.png

Put some consideration into how your table is sorted Pasted image 20240827235622.png

Consider visualizing your data with bar charts Pasted image 20240827235634.png

Consider visualizing your data with heatmaps Pasted image 20240827235642.png

Consider showing development over time instead of just data from two or three time points Pasted image 20240827235651.png

Examples of good tables

2019 MLB Predictions Pasted image 20240827235720.png

How unpopular is Donald Trump? Pasted image 20240827235742.png

The endorsement leader usually wins Pasted image 20240827235753.png

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