Add objects to cells in Numbers on Mac

You can paste images, shapes, lines, charts, and equations into table cells. When you paste an object into a cell, it’s added as an image fill (background) in the cell. You can change how the object fills the cell, or add text that appears in front of the object.

Note: If you paste a shape that contains text, only the text is pasted into the cell.

Add an object to a cell

Go to the Numbers app on your Mac.
Open a spreadsheet, select an object in your spreadsheet (or another document), then choose Edit > Copy or Edit > Cut (cut removes it from its original location).
Click the cell where you want to add the object.
Choose Edit > Paste.

You can add text to a cell after you add an object to it, but you may not be able to arrange the text with the object exactly as you like.

Resize an object in a cell

By default, Numbers scales the object to fit in the cell, but you can adjust the size.

Go to the Numbers app on your Mac.
Open a spreadsheet, click the cell, then click the Cell tab in the Format sidebar.
Click the disclosure arrow next to Fill.
Click the “Scale to Fit” pop-up menu and choose another option.

Delete an object from a cell

If a cell contains both text and an object, you can delete the object without deleting the text.

Go to the Numbers app on your Mac.
Open a spreadsheet, click the cell, then click the Cell tab in the Format sidebar.
Click the disclosure arrow next to Fill.
Click the Image Fill pop-up menu and choose No Fill.

You can also add checkboxes, star ratings, sliders, and pop-up menus to table cells. See Add checkboxes and other controls to cells.

Helpful?

Numbers User Guide for Mac

Add objects to cells in Numbers on Mac

Add an object to a cell

Resize an object in a cell

Delete an object from a cell