Resize Columns and Rows in Excel – Instructions and Video Lesson

Resize Columns and Rows in Excel: Overview

            There are many ways to resize columns and rows in Excel. You can adjust the width of columns to correct the display of longer cell entries. You can also adjust row height to accommodate larger fonts. To resize columns and rows in Excel, you must first select the entire column(s) and/or row(s) to adjust.

            A common problem when resizing rows and columns is that new Excel users often improperly select columns and rows in Excel. To learn how to correctly select entire columns or rows in Excel before resizing them, you can watch the following video lesson, titled “Selecting Columns and Rows.”

            To manually adjust the width of columns, select the columns to adjust. Then place your mouse cursor between the column headings, to the right of the selected column heading or column headings. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position. When it looks like that, click and drag either right or left to adjust the width of the selected column or columns.

Resize Columns and Rows in Excel – Instructions and Video Lesson: A picture of a user resizing selected columns in an Excel workbook.

            To manually adjust the height of rows, select the rows to adjust. Then place your mouse cursor between the row headings, underneath the selected row heading or row headings. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position. When it looks like that, click and drag either up or down to adjust the height of the selected row or rows.

            You can also automatically resize columns and rows in Excel using the “AutoFit” feature. The “AutoFit” feature in Excel automatically adjusts the width of columns and the height of rows to fit the largest entry in each. To AutoFit the width of columns, select the columns to adjust. Then place your mouse pointer between the selected column headings, to the right of the selected column heading or column headings. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position. When it looks like that, double-click that spot to automatically widen the selected columns to accommodate their largest entries.

            To AutoFit the height of rows, select the rows to adjust. Then place your mouse cursor between the row headings, underneath the selected row heading or row headings. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position. When it looks like that, double-click that spot to automatically heighten the selected rows to accommodate their tallest entries.

Resize Columns and Rows in Excel: Instructions

1. To manually adjust the width of columns, select the columns to adjust.
2. Then place your mouse cursor between the column headings, to the right of the selected column heading or column headings.
3. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position.
4. Then click and drag either right or left to adjust the width of the selected column or columns.
5. To manually adjust the height of rows, select the rows to adjust.
6. Then place your mouse cursor between the row headings, underneath the selected row heading or row headings.
7. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position.
8. Then click and drag either up or down to adjust the height of the selected row or rows.
9. To AutoFit the width of columns, select the columns to adjust.
10. Then place your mouse pointer between the selected column headings, to the right of the selected column heading or column headings.
11. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position.
12. Then double-click that spot to automatically widen the selected columns to accommodate their largest entries.
13. To AutoFit the height of rows, select the rows to adjust.
14. Then place your mouse cursor between the row headings, underneath the selected row heading or row headings.
15. The mouse pointer turns into a double-pointed arrow with a separator line when in the correct position.
16. Then double-click that spot to automatically heighten the selected rows to accommodate their tallest entries.

Resize Columns and Rows in Excel: Video Lesson

            The following video lesson, titled “Adjusting Column Width and Row Height,” shows you how to resize columns and rows in Excel. This video lesson on how to resize columns and rows in Excel is from our complete Excel tutorial, titled “Mastering Excel Made Easy v.2019 and 365.”