Compact Tables

Transform your admin list tables into ultra-compact, information-dense views. Reduce row height, tighten padding, use compact date formats, and see 2-3x more content per screen without scrolling.

Use Cases#

• Manage 500+ blog posts efficiently by seeing 30+ articles per screen instead of 10
• Review WooCommerce product inventory faster with more products visible at once
• Maximize screen real estate on 13-inch laptops where vertical space is limited

How It Works#

1. Select which post types should have compact tables
2. Adjust row height, cell padding, and font size
3. Enable compact date format for single-line timestamps
4. Save and visit your post lists to see the condensed layout

Settings#

Post Types#

Choose which post types get the compact treatment:

• Posts
• Pages
• Custom post types (all public CPTs appear in the selector)

Click a post type to add it. Click the × to remove it.

Layout Options#

Compact Date Format#

When enabled, the date column transforms:

Default WordPress Date#

Published
December 1, 2024
at 3:45 pm

Compact Date#

Published
2024/12/01 3:45 pm

The compact format shows date and time on a single line, saving vertical space while keeping all information visible.

Visual Comparison#

Default WordPress (10 rows visible)#

• Large row padding
• Multi-line dates
• Spacious action links
• Standard navigation

Compact Tables (25+ rows visible)#

• Minimal padding
• Single-line dates
• Tight action links
• Condensed navigation

Recommended Settings#

Maximum Density#

• Row Height: 24px
• Cell Padding: 1px
• Font Size: 11px
• Compact Date: On

Balanced Readability#

• Row Height: 28px
• Cell Padding: 3px
• Font Size: 12px
• Compact Date: On

Large Screens#

• Row Height: 32px
• Cell Padding: 5px
• Font Size: 13px
• Compact Date: On

Verification#

After saving your settings:

1. Navigate to a post type you’ve selected (e.g., Posts → All Posts)
2. Notice the reduced row height and tighter spacing
3. Count visible rows—you should see significantly more
4. Check that the compact date format displays correctly

FAQ#

Elements Affected#

The compact styling applies to:

• Table rows and cells
• Row action links (Edit, View, Trash, etc.)
• Column headers
• Pagination controls
• Search box
• Filter dropdowns
• Tab navigation (All, Published, Draft, etc.)

Custom CSS Targets#

If you need further customization, these classes are affected:

.wp-list-table { }
.wp-list-table th { }
.wp-list-table td { }
.wp-list-table .row-actions { }
.wp-list-table .row-title { }
.tablenav { }
.tablenav .actions { }
.subsubsub { }