Add a header by opening the Insert menu and selecting Header & Footer

To create a header in Excel, go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen, then click Header & Footer in the Text group. Excel will switch to a special view where you can type directly into the header area at the top of the page. Type whatever you want to appear — your company name, document title, date, or page number — then click anywhere outside the header box to return to normal view. The header will now print on every page of your spreadsheet.

If you are using Excel on a Mac, the process is nearly identical. Click Insert, then Header and Footer, and type into the header area that appears. The header will print the same way.

Headers stay in place even when you scroll down through your data, so they do not interfere with your work. You can edit or remove a header at any time by returning to Insert > Header & Footer and making your changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Headers appear at the top of every printed page and are added through the Insert tab, not by typing in the cells themselves.
  • You can add text, page numbers, dates, or file names to a header using the built-in options in the Header & Footer dialog.
  • Different headers for the first page or odd and even pages are possible if your document needs them.
  • Headers do not affect your actual spreadsheet data — they exist only in the print layout and printed output.

Use the built-in options to add page numbers, dates, or file names automatically

When you are in the header editing view, you do not have to type everything by hand. Excel provides buttons for common items that change automatically. Click Page Number to insert &[Page], which will print as 1, 2, 3, and so on. Click Date to insert the current date, or Time to insert the current time. Click File Name to print the name of your Excel file.

You can combine these. For example, you might type "Sales Report — " and then click the Date button, so the header reads "Sales Report — 1/15/2025" (with the date updating automatically). You can also add spaces, dashes, or other text between the automatic fields.

These fields update each time you print or open the file, so you do not have to manually change them. If you want a static date that never changes, type it by hand instead of using the Date button.

Create different headers for the first page or for odd and even pages

By default, the same header appears on every page. If you want the first page to have a different header — or no header at all — click Different First Page in the Header & Footer dialog. Excel will then let you create a separate header for page one while keeping the same header for all other pages.

If you are printing a two-sided document, you can also click Different Odd & Even Pages to create one header for odd-numbered pages and a different one for even-numbered pages. This is useful when you want the document title on the left side of left-facing pages and on the right side of right-facing pages.

To use either of these options, you must be in the Page Layout view. If you do not see the header editing area when you click Insert > Header & Footer, switch to Page Layout view first by clicking the View tab and selecting Page Layout.

Footers work the same way as headers

A footer is text that appears at the bottom of every printed page. The process is identical to creating a header. Go to Insert > Header & Footer, but this time click in the footer area at the bottom of the page instead of the top. You can add text, page numbers, dates, or file names the same way you would in a header.

Many spreadsheets use headers for the document title and footers for page numbers or the date printed. You can have both a header and a footer on the same page — they do not interfere with each other.

Headers do not affect your spreadsheet data or cell layout

A common concern is whether adding a header will shift your data around or change how the spreadsheet looks on screen. It will not. Headers exist only in the print layout — they do not change your actual cells, formulas, or data. When you are working in the spreadsheet, you see your data exactly as it is. The header only appears when you print or preview the page.

If you want to see what your header will look like before printing, click File > Print Preview (or press Ctrl+P on Windows, Command+P on Mac). The preview shows you exactly how the header will appear on the printed page, including its position and any automatic fields like page numbers.

Remove or edit a header you no longer need

To remove a header, go back to Insert > Header & Footer, click in the header area, and delete all the text. Then click outside the header box. The header is now gone and will not print.

To edit an existing header, follow the same steps — go to Insert > Header & Footer, click in the header area, and make your changes. You can add text, remove text, or change the automatic fields. Any changes take effect when ready and will appear on the next print.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different headers on different sheets in the same workbook?

Yes. Each sheet in your workbook has its own header. When you click Insert > Header & Footer on Sheet1, you are editing only that sheet's header. Switch to Sheet2 and create a different header there if you want. When you print the entire workbook, each sheet will use its own header.

Why is my header not showing up when I print?

Check your print settings. Some printers have an option to exclude headers and footers. Also verify that your header is not positioned outside the printable area — if your top margin is very small, the header might be cut off. Adjust your margins in Page Layout > Margins if needed.

Can I add an image or logo to the header?

Excel does not allow you to insert images directly into the header the way you can in Word. However, you can insert an image into your spreadsheet above your data and then adjust the print area to include it, or use a text-based logo made from characters and symbols.

What if I want the header to appear only on certain pages?

Headers in Excel explore to all pages of a sheet. If you need different headers for different sections, you can split your data into separate sheets and give each sheet its own header, then print them together as one workbook.

Does the header size affect how much data fits on each page?

Yes, slightly. A larger header takes up more space at the top of the page, leaving less room for your data. If your header is very tall, you may fit fewer rows on each page. Adjust your top margin in Page Layout > Margins if you need more space for your data.