How to Right-Align Page Numbers in a Word Table of Contents

Quick answer: In desktop Microsoft Word, click inside an automatic table of contents, choose References → Table of Contents → Custom Table of Contents, and select Right align page numbers. Choose a tab leader if desired, then confirm replacing the existing table. These settings work with Word-generated tables of contents; a manually typed list requires different formatting.

How to Right-Align TOC Page Numbers

1. Click anywhere on the TOC
2. Go to References Tab > Table of Contents and click “Custom table of contents” to open Table of Contents window

3. Check box against “Right align page numbers”. You can also select tab leader if you need or else select none.

4. Click ok to close the window and apply setting
5. Click Ok on the Ms Word prompt that asks “Replace this table of contents?” to apply

Choose a Tab Leader

In the Custom Table of Contents dialog, the Tab leader menu controls the characters between the heading and its page number. Dots are common in reports and books, but you can also select dashes, a solid line, or none. Preview the result before confirming.

Why Are the Page Numbers Still Misaligned?

• Manual table of contents: A manually typed TOC does not respond to the automatic TOC dialog. Use right-aligned tab stops or replace it with an automatic TOC.
• Custom TOC styles: If the numbers remain out of place, inspect the tab stops in the TOC 1, TOC 2, and other TOC styles. Avoid manually inserting spaces to position page numbers.
• Page numbers changed: After editing the document, right-click the TOC and choose Update Field, then update page numbers or the entire table as needed.

See also how to update a table of contents in Word after changing headings or pagination.

C P Gupta

C P Gupta is a YouTuber and Blogger. He is expert in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. His YouTube channel @pickupbrain is very popular and has crossed 9.9 Million Views.