Multicolumn width uneven

Question

I am trying to create a table with this code;

\begin{table}[ht]
\centering\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
Mean Partnership Duration & \multicolumn  {4}{c|}{\centering Number of simulations resulting in an epidemic}\\
\cline{2-5}
No. & head 1 & head 2& head 3 & head 4\
\hline
1 & data1 & data2 & data 3 & data4\
\hline
2 & data1 & data2 & data 3 & 4\
\hline
3 & data1 & data2 & data 3& 4\
\hline
4 & data1 & data2 & data 3& 4\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{This is the ideal table}
\label{My table}
\end{table}

But the 4th subcolumn labelled 'head 4' is larger than the other subcolumns. I want all 4 columns to be equal in width, Any advice? All the best,

Welcome. Does this (https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/5017/center-column-with-specifying-width-in-table-tabular-enviroment) answer your question? — Excelsior, Mar 29 '21 at 20:14
Hi! Now you have three answers :-). You may consider to up-vote each of them you liked ( by clicking on up-triangle at top left side of answers) and accept one of the, which solve your problem on the best way ( by clicking on check mark at top left side of selected answer). — Zarko, Mar 30 '21 at 10:44

Simon Dispa · Answer 1 · 2021-03-31T14:46:42.310

Define a new column type (package array) using an m column of the desired width. (m will center vertically the multicolumn cell).

\newcolumntype{C}{>{\centering \arraybackslash}m{0.2\textwidth}}

Using the same package it is possible expand the cells vertically

\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{<a number>}

\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{showframe} % show margins
\usepackage{calc}%<<<<<<<<<<<<< added
\usepackage{array} %<<<<<<<<<<<<< added
\newcolumntype{C}{>{\centering \arraybackslash}m{(\textwidth-(6\arrayrulewidth)-(10\tabcolsep))/5}}
\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.8} %<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< optional
\begin{document}
\begin{table}[ht]
    \centering
    \begin{tabular}{|C|C|C|C|C|}
        \hline
        Mean Partnership Duration &amp; \multicolumn{4}{c|}{Number of simulations resulting in an epidemic}\\           
        \cline{2-5}
        No. &amp; head 1 &amp; head 2&amp; head 3 &amp; head 4\\
        \hline
        1 &amp; data1 &amp; data2 &amp; data 3 &amp; data4\\
        \hline
        2 &amp; data1 &amp; data2 &amp; data 3 &amp; 4\\
        \hline
        3 &amp; data1 &amp; data2 &amp; data 3&amp; 4\\
        \hline
        4 &amp; data1 &amp; data2 &amp; data 3&amp; 4\\
        \hline
    \end{tabular}
    \caption{This is the ideal table}
    \label{My table}
\end{table} 


\end{document

Your tabular is too wide. You should replace 0.2\textwidth by (\textwidth-(6\arrayrulewidth)-(10\tabcolsep))/5. — F. Pantigny, Mar 30 '21 at 09:06

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 30 '21 at 00:22

With use of the makecell and tabularx packages:

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{makecell, tabularx}
\newcolumntype{C}{>{\centering\arraybackslash}X}
\begin{document}
    \begin{table}[ht]
    \centering
    \setcellgapes{3pt}
    \makegapedcells
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{|*{5}{C|} }
    \hline
\makecell{Mean\ Partnership\ Duration}
    & \multicolumn{4}{c|}{Number of simulations resulting in an epidemic}\
\cline{2-5}
No. & head 1 & head 2 & head 3 & head 4\
\hline
1   & data 1 & data 2 & data 3 & data4\
\hline
2   & data 1 & data 2 & data 3 & 4\
\hline
3   & data 1 & data 2 & data 3 & 4\
\hline
4   & data 1 & data 2 & data 3 & 4\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\caption{This is the ideal table}
\label{My table}
    \end{table}
\end{document}

That is excellent thanks! – Charlie Cameron Mar 30 '21 at 09:50 — Charlie Cameron, Mar 30 '21 at 09:50

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 30 '21 at 09:15

With {NiceTabular} of nicematrix (you need several compilations).

 \documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
 \usepackage{nicematrix}
\begin{document}
\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.8}
\begin{table}[ht]
 \centering
 \begin{NiceTabular}{ccccc}[hvlines,columns-width=auto]
 \Block{2-1}{}
 \Block{}{Mean\ Partnership\ Duration} & \Block{1-4}{Number of simulations resulting in an epidemic}\ 
 No. & head 1 & head 2& head 3 & head 4\
 1 & data1 & data2 & data 3 & data4\
 2 & data1 & data2 & data 3 & 4\
 3 & data1 & data2 & data 3& 4\
 4 & data1 & data2 & data 3& 4\
 \end{NiceTabular}
 \caption{This is the ideal table}
 \label{My table}
 \end{table}
\end{document}

The key hvlines draws all the rules, excepted in the blocks created by Block (that's why I have added an empty block \Block{2-1}{} to avoid a rule under the left-uppermost cell.

Thanks for the help! – Charlie Cameron Mar 30 '21 at 09:51 — Charlie Cameron, Mar 30 '21 at 09:51

Multicolumn width uneven

3 Answers3