- Select the worksheet or worksheets that you want to print. For more information, see Select one or multiple worksheets. …
- On the Page Layout tab, in the Sheet Options group, select the Print check box under Gridlines. …
- Click the File tab, and then click Print. …
- Click the Print button.
By default, Microsoft Excel removes the grid lines separating each cell when you print a worksheet. You must change the display options for each applicable worksheet if you want to keep the grid lines in your printout. However, Microsoft Excel only displays borders around cells that contain actual data. Include those cells in the print area if you want the program to print grid lines for empty cells as well.
Ruri Ranbe has been working as a writer since 2008. She received an A. A. with a B in English literature from Valencia College. S. in computer science at the University of Central Florida. Having worked in the field of information technology for more than six years, Ranbe is an expert in computer architecture, operating systems, networking, server administration, virtualization, and web design.
Printing in Excel 1 – Print the Gridlines when an Excel Spreadsheet is Printed
When to print gridlines in Excel
Gridlines don’t typically appear when printing Excel spreadsheets by default. Fortunately, Excel allows users to print with gridlines if they so choose. When a spreadsheet contains a lot of data, it can be a good idea to print with gridlines. If gridlines are printed in this scenario, spreadsheet reviewers may find it easier to understand and derive meaning from the unique data contained in each row or column.
What are gridlines in Excel?
Gridlines in Excel are the lines separating cells of data. These gridlines are automatically applied by Excel to each spreadsheet you create within the program. Gridlines help you and others quickly scan and comprehend the information on your spreadsheet.
How to set up gridlines to print in Excel
Excel provides users with a number of ways to create gridlines that they can print. What Excel version you have and whether you prefer using dialog boxes are just two examples of factors that may affect which approach is best. The following are four different ways to create printable Excel gridlines:
1. How to print gridlines for Excel using “Sheet Options”
The “Sheet Options” features in Excel provide users with the quickest way to print spreadsheets with gridlines. The following four steps will show you how to print gridlines in Excel using “Sheet Options”:
2. How to set up print gridlines for Excel with the “Page Setup” tool
Consider using the “Page Setup” feature if you would rather configure your Excel spreadsheet using dialog boxes. Here’s how to print an Excel spreadsheet with gridlines using the “Page Setup” tool:
3. How to set up print gridlines for Excel on the web
It’s important to be aware that printing gridlines is not currently supported for the Excel web version if you’re using that version of the program. Instead, you can use border features to simulate the look of gridlines when printing. The steps to apply borders in Excel’s web version so that your printed spreadsheet appears to have gridlines are as follows:
4. How to set up print gridlines for Excel in “Print Preview” mode
Users of Excel can also set up their gridlines for printing while in “Print Preview” mode. The “Print Preview” function in Excel can be used to create printable gridlines in the following six steps:
Tips for troubleshooting print gridlines in Excel
If you’ve tried a variety of techniques to print gridlines in Excel but none of them have been successful, you may need to troubleshoot the software or your computer. The following advice will help you troubleshoot any problems you might run into when trying to print gridlines in Excel:
Check the “Draft quality”
Before printing your spreadsheets quickly, Excel’s “Draft quality” feature is supposed to take out any graphics. Make sure that this feature is disabled if you want to print gridlines on your spreadsheet. Here’s how to make sure that your Excel program isn’t using the “Draft quality” feature:
Evaluate the printer driver
When you try to print your spreadsheets, it might not look as expected if your device still uses an old printer driver. To see if your printer drivers are up to date, visit the website of the company that makes your printers. If you’re using a Windows device, you can also access your Control Panel to check if your operating system allows you to download printer driver updates directly. Accessing the Systems and Preferences feature on a Mac may also allow users to do this.
Reduce the scale
When you try to print your spreadsheet, sometimes the scale you’re using can cause problems. Here’s how to change the scale you’re using to view Excel in order to possibly resolve printing issues with this feature:
Improve the print quality
If the option to print in the highest quality is not chosen, your printer might not print gridlines. The actions to take to raise the caliber of your print jobs in Excel are as follows:
Try printing as PDF
You may occasionally be able to fix other issues with printing graphical elements in Excel by using the “Print as PDF” option. When you’re in Excel’s Print Preview mode, select “Print to PDF” from the drop-down list of printers to see if that fixes your issue instead of attempting to print using your default printer. If your operating system isn’t one of the many that can print to a PDF, you can download a print to PDF program to your computer.
How to change the color of your print gridlines in Excel
Excels default color for gridlines is light gray. If you have a color printer, you might want to make your gridlines stand out more by using a different color. The steps to change the color that prints on your Excel gridlines are as follows:
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FAQ
Why is my Excel spreadsheet not printing gridlines?
You probably have your printer set to “Draft quality” if gridlines don’t appear in the print preview or the final printout. The gridlines are not present in this mode because it is intended to conserve ink. In Excel, go to File > Print > Page Setup to remove this choice. Click the “Sheet” tab.
How do I print the gridlines and headers in Excel?
- either select Print Preview and then click Setup from the Print menu, or select Page Setup.
- Click the Sheet tab.
- Gridlines and Row And Column Headings should be selected in the Print section.
- Click OK.
How do I print with gridlines?
- Click the sheet.
- Gridlines can be selected under Print on the Layout tab.
- On the File menu, click Print.
