How to Add Columns in PowerPoint

When I first started using PowerPoint, I assumed adding columns would be as easy as it is in Word. I was wrong.

PowerPoint doesn’t make it immediately obvious how to add columns, and if you’re someone who presents often, you know that clean formatting can make or break a slide.

Whether you’re working on a business presentation, a proposal, or a course slide deck, understanding how to use columns the right way can help you present content more clearly and efficiently.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through several ways to add and manage columns in PowerPoint.

I’ll cover when you should use columns, the different methods depending on your formatting needs, and mistakes to avoid if you want your presentation to look clean and professional.

Why Use Columns in PowerPoint?

Columns are useful when you need to display content side-by-side without cramming it all into one big block of text.

They help improve readability and let you fit more structured content on a single slide. But that doesn’t mean you should use them on every slide.

Here’s when columns come in handy:

Listing pros and cons side by side
Comparing features or pricing
Summarizing bullet points from two different categories
Creating newsletter-style layouts
Building a resume or portfolio slide

Here’s a quick table showing common use cases where columns can help versus when to avoid them:

Use Case	Use Columns?
Feature comparison	Yes
Storytelling or narrative slide	No
Resume layout	Yes
Timeline with images	No
List of pros and cons	Yes

The point is: columns are a layout tool. Not a design strategy. If the content naturally fits side-by-side, use them. If not, stick to one column or break it into multiple slides.

Method 1: Add Columns Inside a Text Box

The first method is the most straightforward, and it works if you just need your text arranged in multiple columns, like a newspaper or brochure layout.

Here’s how to do it:

Go to the Insert tab
Click Text Box, then draw the box where you want it on the slide
Type or paste your text inside
Right-click the text box and choose Format Shape
In the panel that appears on the right, click Text Options
Choose the Text Box icon (it looks like a square with an “A”)
Under Columns, click the Columns… button
Choose how many columns you want and set the spacing between them

Once you do this, your text will automatically wrap into multiple columns inside that one text box.

Why This Method Works

Keeps formatting within a single object, making it easy to move around
You can still apply bullets, fonts, colors, and spacing as normal
Works great for longer paragraphs or chunked info

What to Watch Out For

It doesn’t support images or tables inside the columns
Text can be harder to format if you’re dealing with a mix of lists and headings
Doesn’t work on all versions of PowerPoint (some older ones don’t have this option)

If you’re creating print-style slides, brochures, or compact text-heavy layouts, this is the easiest method to use.

Method 2: Use a Table to Simulate Columns

Sometimes, the built-in column option isn’t enough. Maybe you want more control over what goes in each column — images, bullets, icons, even mini charts.

That’s when using a table makes more sense.

Here’s how I do it:

Go to the Insert tab
Click Table, then choose 1 row and however many columns you need (usually 2 or 3)
Adjust the column widths to fit your layout
Turn off the table borders if you want it to look seamless
Add your text, images, icons, or whatever else inside each cell

This method gives you total freedom to create rich content in a clean, side-by-side layout. It’s basically hacking PowerPoint’s layout system.

Pros of Using Tables as Columns

You can place anything inside: text, images, buttons, shapes, etc.
You control column width, spacing, and alignment
Great for pricing tables, product features, or infographics

Tips to Make It Look Cleaner

Remove borders: Right-click > Format Table > Set borders to none
Use padding: Add internal cell padding so text isn’t touching the edges
Align consistently: Use center or left alignment across all cells for consistency

Here’s a visual breakdown of when to use this method:

You Need To…	Use Table as Columns?
Add text only	Maybe
Add text + icons or images	Yes
Create a pricing comparison table	Yes
Display large paragraphs in columns	No (text box is better)
Build a slide layout with 3 sections	Yes

This method takes a little longer to set up but gives you much more flexibility — especially if you’re going for a more modern, professional look.

Method 3: Manual Layout with Multiple Text Boxes

This is more of a brute-force approach, but sometimes it’s the most straightforward: just create two or more separate text boxes and manually place them side by side.

Here’s how to do it:

Insert your first text box
Copy and paste it to create a second one
Place them side by side, adjusting spacing manually
Type your content into each box
Align them using PowerPoint’s Align tools for perfect spacing

This method works best when your content is already split up into sections or bullet points.

Benefits

Full control over layout
Easy to manage short bits of content or titles
No formatting limitations — works on every version of PowerPoint

Downsides

Not efficient for long text
Formatting can get inconsistent if you’re not careful
Harder to adjust spacing if you need to resize everything later

So why would you use this method? Mostly for short, simple slides where you’re laying out labels, data points, or small sections of text.

Design Tips for Using Columns Effectively

Adding columns is one thing — using them well is another. I’ve seen a lot of slides where people overuse columns and end up with cluttered, confusing layouts.

To keep your slides clean and easy to read, here are a few principles I follow:

Use White Space Generously

Don’t cram text from edge to edge. Columns make it tempting to add more content, but that’s usually a bad idea.

Add margins inside your text boxes or tables
Leave space between columns (20–40px works well)
Keep slide margins consistent across your deck

Limit the Number of Columns

Stick with 2 columns in most cases. Occasionally 3 works, but anything more gets hard to read — especially on smaller screens or projectors.

2 columns: ideal for pros/cons, comparisons, text + image layouts
3 columns: works for feature breakdowns or mini icon grids
4+ columns: avoid unless it’s a product spec sheet or printable doc

Font Size Matters

Using columns usually means you’re fitting more on the slide, so don’t shrink your text too much. I keep my fonts between 18–28 pt for most content.

Here’s a quick guide:

Slide Type	Recommended Font Size
Main content	22–28 pt
Subpoints	18–22 pt
Titles/Headings	32–44 pt

Don’t sacrifice readability just to fit more info. It’s better to split into two slides than squish everything into one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

You can follow all the technical steps above, but still end up with a bad layout if you’re not thinking about the user experience.

Here are some common pitfalls I’ve seen (and made myself):

Mistake #1: Using Columns Just to Fit More Content

This is probably the biggest one. Just because you can fit more text on a slide doesn’t mean you should. If your slide starts looking like a wall of text, it’s time to split it up.

Mistake #2: Inconsistent Formatting Between Columns

If one column has bullets and the other is just plain text, it throws off the balance. Make sure your formatting matches:

Same font
Same size
Aligned to the same vertical position
Balanced amount of content

Mistake #3: Overlapping Elements or Poor Alignment

When placing text boxes or tables manually, always use the built-in Align tools:

Select all the elements
Go to Shape Format > Align
Choose “Align Top” or “Distribute Horizontally” to space them evenly

This keeps your layout clean and professional.

When Not to Use Columns in PowerPoint

While columns can be helpful, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes, trying to force a column layout makes your slide worse, not better.

Avoid using columns when:

You’re telling a story with visuals or animations
Your content needs to flow linearly
The text includes complex formatting or multimedia
You’re presenting to an audience on mobile or small screens

Instead, use single-column slides with strong visuals and pacing.

Think of slides as visual cue cards, not Word documents. Less is almost always more.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Power User Tips

Once you’ve worked with columns a few times, you’ll want to speed things up. Here are some of my favorite tips:

Fast Way to Access Column Settings

Instead of going through multiple right-click menus:

Select the text box
Press Ctrl + 1 (on Windows) to bring up the Format Shape panel
Go straight to the Text Box settings and click Columns

Create a Custom Layout with Columns

If you use columns often, you can create a custom Slide Master layout:

Go to View > Slide Master
Add placeholder text boxes or tables set up as columns
Save the layout and use it across your deck for consistency

This saves you tons of time if you’re working on a large presentation or a branded template.

Final Thoughts

Adding columns in PowerPoint isn’t hard — once you know the options.

Whether you’re using a text box, a table, or manual layout, the key is knowing why you’re using columns in the first place.

If it helps your message come across more clearly, great. If it just clutters the slide, drop it.

Keep your slides clean, your fonts readable, and your layouts consistent. That’s the real secret to better presentations.