Create multiple tables of contents in a document

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to create multiple tables of contents (TOCs) in a single Adobe InDesign document.

You can create independent TOCs for magazines, books, or catalogs that need separate lists for chapters, illustrations, or advertisers. Each TOC requires its own TOC style that defines which paragraph styles to include and how entries appear.

Select Layout > Table of Contents, then select New.

In the TOC Style field, type a name for the style.

Type a name in the Title field to display as the TOC heading.

From the Other Styles list, double-click each paragraph style you want to include in your TOC. The selected style appears in the Include Paragraph Styles list.

For each style in the Include Paragraph Styles list, choose an Entry Style to format how those entries appear in your TOC.

Choose additional formatting options, such as the position of page numbers, the spacing between entries and page numbers, and whether to sort entries alphabetically, then select OK.

To create multiple independent TOCs, repeat this procedure and assign a unique TOC style to each TOC. Each TOC is placed in its own text frame, so you can format, move, or manage it independently.

Note

Avoid threading TOC frames with other text frames. If you replace a TOC, the entire threaded story will be replaced.

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