The quickest way to change row height

To change how tall a row is in Excel, click on the row number on the left side of the spreadsheet, then drag the bottom edge of that row header up or down. The cursor will change to a resize arrow when you're in the right spot. This works for a single row or multiple rows at once.

If you want to be exact about the height instead of dragging by eye, right-click the row number and select Row Height from the menu. A box will appear where you can type in the exact measurement in points (Excel's default unit). Type the number you want and click OK.

For rows that contain wrapped text or tall content, you can also right-click and choose Optimal Height or AutoFit Row Height. Excel will automatically make the row tall enough to show all the content without cutting anything off.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the bottom edge of a row header to change height by eye, or double-click that edge to auto-fit the content.
  • Right-click a row number and select Row Height to enter an exact measurement in points.
  • Use AutoFit Row Height when you have wrapped text or tall content that needs to display completely.
  • You can change multiple rows at once by selecting them first, then adjusting height for all of them together.
  • Excel measures row height in points, where 72 points equals one inch on the screen.

Selecting multiple rows to change them together

If you need to change the height of several rows at the same time, click on the first row number, then hold Ctrl and click on each additional row number you want to change. All selected rows will highlight in blue. Now drag the bottom edge of any selected row header, and all the rows you picked will resize together.

You can also select a range of rows in one click by clicking the first row number, then holding Shift and clicking the last row number in the group. This selects every row between them. Then drag or right-click to change the height for all of them at once.

Understanding row height measurements

Excel measures row height in points, which is a printing standard. One point equals 1/72 of an inch. The default row height in Excel is usually 15 points, which gives you enough space for regular text in a standard font size.

When you type a number into the Row Height box, you're entering points. If you want a row that is half an inch tall, you would enter 36 points (since 72 points = 1 inch, and half of 72 is 36). Most people don't need to think about this — you can just drag until the row looks right, or use AutoFit to let Excel decide.

Using AutoFit when text gets cut off

If you have text that wraps to multiple lines inside a cell, or if you've made the font larger and the text is now cut off at the bottom, AutoFit is the fastest fix. Select the rows that need adjustment, right-click, and choose Optimal Height (on Mac) or AutoFit Row Height (on Windows). Excel will measure the tallest content in each row and make the row exactly tall enough to show it all.

You can also double-click the bottom edge of a row header to trigger AutoFit for just that row. Position your cursor on the line between two row numbers until the resize arrow appears, then double-click. The row will snap to the height needed for its content.

Resetting rows to the default height

If you've changed row heights and want to go back to Excel's standard height, select the rows you want to reset. Right-click and choose Row Height, then enter 15 (the default). Click OK and those rows will return to normal size.

If you want to reset all rows in the entire sheet at once, click the select-all button (the small box in the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet), then right-click and choose Row Height. Enter 15 and click OK. Every row in the sheet will go back to the default.

Common mistakes when changing row height

The most common mistake is trying to drag from the wrong place. You must position your cursor on the line between two row numbers in the header area on the left — not on the cells themselves. When you're in the right spot, the cursor will change to a double-headed arrow pointing up and down. If you see a different cursor, move up or down slightly until you get the resize arrow.

Another mistake is forgetting that row height changes affect the entire row across all columns. You cannot make one cell taller without making the whole row taller. If you need different heights for different content, you may need to split that content into separate rows or use text wrapping instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make different rows different heights?

Yes. Change each row individually by clicking its row number, then dragging the bottom edge or right-clicking to enter a specific height. You can set each row to whatever height you need.

What if I want to hide a row instead of making it shorter?

Right-click the row number and select Hide. The row will disappear from view but the data stays in the file. To show it again, select the rows above and below the hidden row, right-click, and choose Unhide.

Does changing row height affect the printed page?

Yes. Row heights you set in Excel will print the same way they appear on screen. If you make rows very tall, your spreadsheet will take up more pages when printed. Check Print Preview before printing to see how it will look.

Can I set a minimum row height so text doesn't get cut off?

Excel does not have a minimum height setting. Use AutoFit Row Height instead — it will automatically adjust each row to fit its content. You can also manually set a height that you know will work for your typical content.