Two table header rows with different formatting styles

Question

I read the other post about two table header rows with different formatting style, and the answer was NO. But that post was in 2014 I guess. My questions are: (1) Is there any chance that I can create a table style with two header rows? The fact is that when I use a table style, it automatically sets only the first row as header, even when I select two rows and set them as header (in the tab Layout), when I reopen the file, it goes back to the template of one header row. (2) Is there any chance that these two header rows have different formatting style? Thank you.

Answer 1

Rather than a Table Style, consider setting up a Table formatted the way you want, and saving that table as an AutoText entry. When you want to use such a table, insert the AutoText. Yes, you can have two consecutive header rows.

You can even attach a keyboard shortcut to your AutoText if you want.

• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/autotextautocorrect.htm#AutoComplete
• https://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2018/07/xml-hacking-add-a-table-of-contents-to-the-toc-gallery/
• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/tables.htm#Header
• https://addbalance.com/articles/Assigning%20Keyboard%20Shortcuts%20in%20Microsoft%20Word%202007-2024%20(365).htm

Answer 2

I'm not sure I understand the intent, but have you considered just pressing return in the Header Row to create a second paragraph then applying a different Heading Style to each paragraph?

Answer 3

Currently, Microsoft Word does not support creating a table style with two header rows that can maintain different formatting styles. When you apply a table style, it typically recognizes only the first row as the header row, and any additional rows designated as headers will revert to the default formatting when the document is reopened. This behavior has been consistent and has not changed in recent versions of Word.

As for having two header rows with different formatting styles, Word's table styles do not allow for this flexibility. You can manually format the rows after creating the table, but this formatting will not be preserved if you apply a table style that enforces a single header row.

In summary, while you can create a table with two header rows, maintaining different formatting styles for both is not supported by Word's current functionality.

Answer 4

Hi Giang Pham, 

Welcome to Microspoft Q&A Forum! Have a good day and I hope you're doing well!

I completely understand that having two header rows with different formatting is important for how you design your tables, and it’s frustrating when Word keeps reverting back to a single header row. To look into this properly, I reproduced the behavior in a test environment following the same steps you described, and I can confirm I see the same result:

• When I select the first two rows and use Table Layout > Repeat Header Rows, both rows are marked as header rows and they do repeat on subsequent pages. 
• However, as soon as I apply any Table Style, Word automatically treats only the first row as the “Header Row” in terms of styling, and the second row becomes a normal body row. 

This happens because the current Table Style mechanism in Word only allows a single Header Row definition inside a style (there is only one dedicated formatting “slot” for header rows). Each time you apply or change a Table Style, Word forces the header formatting back to the first row only. 

I. About creating a Table Style with two header rows: Unfortunately, at the moment Word still does not support creating a Table Style that has two separate header rows with separate formatting definitions and saving that as a standard style. 

Even if you mark the first two rows as header rows via Repeat Header Rows, whenever you apply or change a Table Style, the “Header Row” formatting will only be applied to row 1. 

II. Keeping two real header rows and formatting them differently: There is a workable workaround: 

1. Choose the Table Style first 

• Place the cursor anywhere inside the table. 
• Go to Table Design and pick the Table Style you like (colors, borders, etc.). 

2. Mark both top rows as header rows again 

• Select the first two rows. 
• Go to Table Layout > Repeat Header Rows. 
• Now both rows are real header rows: they will both repeat on every page. 
• At this stage, both rows will share the same base header formatting from the chosen Table Style. 

3. Manually adjust formatting so the two header rows look different 

To give them different background colors: Select the header row you want to change > go to Table Design > Shading > pick a color. 

To change font, size, bold/italic, etc.: Select the row > go to the Home tab > adjust Font, Size, Bold/Italic, Alignment… as needed. 

With this approach: 

• Functionally, both rows are still header rows and will repeat at the top of each page. 
• Visually, you can make the two rows look different (background, font, size, etc.) by manual formatting. 

One small note: since step 3 relies on manual formatting, if you later switch to a different Table Style, you may need to re‑tune the formatting of the second header row. 

I hope the information and the testing I’ve done can partially help you in running your workflow more smoothly. If you have any concern or question, or if I misunderstood anything or something is unclear, feel free to share. 

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Answer 5

Hi Giang Pham,

Thanks again for the clarification. I’ve re-tested the scenario in a clean environment to be sure I captured the exact behavior you described. Below is what I found when working specifically with two separate physical header rows instead of two paragraphs in the same row. In this setup, to keep both rows functioning as repeating header rows and allow different formatting between them, the steps that consistently work in testing are:

1. Apply the Table Style first

• Click anywhere inside the table

• Go to Table Design

• Pick the Table Style you want Applying the style at this stage ensures Word sets its default header formatting before you begin customizing anything.2. Select the first two rows > Repeat Header Rows

• Highlight row 1 and row 2

• Go to Table Layout > Repeat Header Rows

This tells Word that both are functional header rows meaning they will repeat correctly across pages.

3. Manually format the second header row

Since Table Styles apply header formatting only to the first header row, the second one can be customized with:

• Table Design > Shading (background color)

• Home > Font / Paragraph (font size, bold, alignment, spacing, etc.) This approach keeps both rows behaving as headers while still giving you flexibility to differentiate their appearance.

In my testing, after completing these steps and then saving the file, closing Word completely, and reopening it, both rows continued to behave as repeating headers exactly as expected as long as the steps above were followed in that order.

Bob’s method of using two paragraphs inside a single header row is absolutely a valid and efficient option especially when the second line doesn’t require its own row structure.

I hope this information is at least partially helpful for your scenario, and the most important thing is choosing whichever method fits best with your workflow. If you have any questions or would like me to test another configuration, feel free to let me know.