# Smaller row spacing for multirow

I have a table as in the figure and code below. The problem is that it really hard to see that the cells 22-34 belongs to the multirow R-23. I would like to reduce the row spacing for these to rows to bring them close to each other. How would I do that? Preferably it is a global setting that reduces the row spacing for all multi-rows.

\begin{tabular}{*4l}\toprule
\textbf{R1}                    & 12 & 13 & 14 \\
\multirow{2}{*}{\textbf{R2-3}} & 22 & 23 & 24 \\
& 32 & 33 & 34 \\
\textbf{R4}                    & 42 & 43 & 44 \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}


\\ has an optional argument, meaning the vertical space added. Hence you can rewrite your example as (the value is left to your taste):

\begin{tabular}{*4l}\toprule
\textbf{R1}                    & 12 & 13 & 14 \\
\multirow{2}{*}{\textbf{R2-3}} & 22 & 23 & 24 \\[-3pt] % here is the change
& 32 & 33 & 34 \\
\textbf{R4}                    & 42 & 43 & 44 \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}

• Thanks. This works, but you have to add this for every multirow you use, and this will cause some headaches if I decide to change the distance in the document. Anyway to make this change 'permanent' and reusable? – T'n'E Aug 19 '15 at 13:28
• @T'n'E For example \def\NH{\\[-3pt]} and use this definition in place of the shown change. \NH is for No Headaches. :-) – Przemysław Scherwentke Aug 19 '15 at 13:37
• Great! Now I use \setlength\extrarowheight{7pt} and \def\NH{\\[-\extrarowheight]} to cancel out the extra space for multirows. Not optimal, but not too much hassle. – T'n'E Aug 20 '15 at 7:01

You also can use the \addlinespace command from booktabs. The value of \defaultaddspace can be adjusted in preamble. I also slightly simplified the code for the first column:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{array, booktabs, multirow}

\begin{document}

\begin{tabular}{ > {\bfseries}l*3l}
\toprule
R1 & 12 & 13 & 14 \\
\multirow{2}{*}{R2-3} & 22 & 23 & 24 \\
& 32 & 33 & 34 \\

• Thanks for the simplified syntax. Keep forgetting that trick. Is there any benefit using \addlinespace compared to \\[-3pt]? If I understand it correctly, this would have to be added to all rows not multirow, which in my case is the majority of rows. There is no \removelinespace? – T'n'E Aug 20 '15 at 6:56
• Ah, yes, now I see, but that also means that if I add another row, R5, the distance between R4 and R5 would be equal to that of the multirow. One can then argue which is more readable… – T'n'E Aug 20 '15 at 11:50
• Yes, it will have the ‘general’ distance. Personnally, I prefer that solution but it's a matter of taste. Also, don't forget, with\setdefaultaddspace, you can modulate this spacing. – Bernard Aug 20 '15 at 11:56