[Tex/LaTex] Add more space between cells in a table

Question

This question already has answers here:

Column and row padding in tables

(13 answers)

Closed 9 years ago.

I'd like to add more space between the cells of the table below. I've tried the command [2ex] after \\ but this changes the vertical alignment, which I'd like to be centered.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\begin{table}
\footnotesize
\centering
\begin{tabular}{c|c|c|c}
\multicolumn{4}{c}{ } \\
Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text \\\hline
\multirow{2}{*}{Text text text}
& Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text \\[2ex]
& Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text \\[2ex]\hline
\multirow{2}{*}{Text text text}
& Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text \\[2ex]
& Text text text text & Text text text text & Text text text text \\[2ex]\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}

Answer 1

The following simple example shows several alternatives depending on your intent:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

\noindent Default settings:\\
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
\hline
column1a & column2a & column3a \\
\hline
column1b & column2b & column3b \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

\vspace{36pt}

\noindent Changing \verb+\tabcolsep+ (default value: \texttt{6pt}):\\
{
\addtolength\tabcolsep{10pt}
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
\hline
column1a & column2a & column3a \\
\hline
column1b & column2b & column3b \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
}

\vspace{36pt}

\noindent Using the \verb+@{...}+ syntax to add space individually:\\
\begin{tabular}{c@{\hspace{25pt}}cc}
\hline
column1a & column2a & column3a \\
\hline
column1b & column2b & column3b \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

\vspace{36pt}

\noindent Changing \verb+\arraystretch+ factor:\\
{
\renewcommand\arraystretch{1.4}
\begin{tabular}{c@{\hspace{25pt}}cc}
\hline
column1a & column2a & column3a \\
\hline
column1b & column2b & column3b \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
}
\vspace{36pt}

\noindent Using the optional argument for \verb+\\+ in a \textit{per-row} basis:\\
\begin{tabular}{c@{\hspace{25pt}}cc}
\hline
column1a & column2a & column3a \\[2ex]
\hline
column1b & column2b & column3b \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

\end{document}