Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog

HomeBlog
Tip of the Week: How to Resize Excel Rows and Columns

Tip of the Week: How to Resize Excel Rows and Columns

March 24, 2023

Microsoft Excel can be a great tool to help your business organize data, but the default size of the cell doesn’t leave much room for you to be productive. You can adjust the size of each cell depending on the purpose of the data stored within, starting with the width and the height of each column and row. Let’s go over how you can resize each individual cell.

How to Resize Columns and Rows in Excel

To start resizing your columns and rows, you first should select the cells you want to adjust. We’re going to use the example of resizing all cells in the spreadsheet. To do this, click the space at the top left corner of the spreadsheet. It should be right next to the leftmost column. If you’ve clicked on the right thing, you’ll see a green outline around all of your spreadsheet.

This will give you immediate control over the width and height of all rows and columns by clicking and dragging the borders of them.

How to Get More Specific Measurements

For more specific measurements on your columns and rows, you can adjust them as well. By default, the size of rows is set to 8.43 points and the size of columns is set to 15 points. You can change these measurements by right-clicking the top or left-most part of the column or row and selecting Column Width or Row Height, accordingly. You enter the measurements into the dialog box, then hit OK. The maximum values you can plug in here are 255 points for columns and 409 points for rows.

How to Use the AutoFit Feature

Another option you have is to AutoFit the size of your cells to fit the size of the data found in them. You’ll find this option under the Home tab in the Format section. Click on AutoFit and adjust the settings for row height or column width as needed. Empty cells will simply stay at the default size.

Hopefully you found this tip helpful for your spreadsheet needs. Excel can be finicky if you’re not used to working in it, so even simple tips like these can help you get more out of it. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on our blog for more great tips for all of your favorite business technology solutions, and contact First Column IT for any of your technology needs.

Previous Post
May 20, 2026
Three Simple Habits to End Digital Clutter and Reclaim Your Day
The average office worker spends nearly 20% of their week just looking for information or dealing with digital interruptions. Between messy folder structures and the constant "ping" of chat messages, it’s easy to feel like you’re busy without actually being productive. 
May 18, 2026
Shifting Your Security Culture from Control to Protection
Business owners often invest in threat detection suites to prevent security breaches. However, technology is only half the battle. High-end hardware and software cannot prevent a breach if an individual inside the organization provides access to a malicious actor.
May 15, 2026
Achieve Zero Interruptions with Invisible IT Maintenance
When we sit down and watch a movie, we love a hero who arrives just in time to defuse a ticking clock. In business, however, the ticking clock is actually your company’s overhead, and every second it ticks during a system outage is money evaporating. 

Have a project in mind?

Start with our free consultation. We will provide a detailed proposal and firm quote based on your specific IT support needs. All at a predictable monthly cost per seat.
Free Consultation - Sign Up Here