Embodiments relate to table compression in a database. The database is organized in tables including rows and columns An aspect includes defining a range partition of a table of the database according to a first attribute of the table. Internal ranges of the table of the database are defined according to a second attribute of the table. A target internal range of the internal ranges is determined to insert a row as a new entry into the table. A determination is made as to whether an internal range compression directory exists for the target internal range. Based on determining that no internal range compression directory exists for the target internal range and a predefined threshold value of a number of rows is exceeded in the target internal range, the internal range compression directory for the target internal range is created.