The quickest way to adjust row height

To change how tall a row is in Excel, position your cursor on the line between two row numbers on the left side of the spreadsheet until you see a resize arrow, then drag up or down. This works on any row and takes about two seconds. If you want to set an exact height instead of dragging by eye, right-click the row number, select Row Height, type the measurement you want, and click OK.

Excel measures row height in points — the same unit used for font size. One point equals roughly 1/72 of an inch. A standard row is 15 points tall. Most people never need to know this number; dragging the border is faster and gives you what you want visually.

If you need multiple rows taller at once, click the first row number, hold Shift, and click the last row number to select them all. Then drag the border between any two of the selected rows, and they all change together.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the border between row numbers on the left side of the spreadsheet to resize a row without typing any numbers.
  • Right-click a row number and choose Row Height to enter an exact measurement if you need rows to be precisely the same size.
  • Select multiple rows by clicking the first, holding Shift, and clicking the last, then drag any border between them to resize all at once.
  • Double-click the border between two row numbers to auto-fit the height to whatever content is in that row.
  • Excel's default row height is 15 points, and you can make rows taller for readability or shorter to fit more data on screen.

Using auto-fit when content doesn't fit

If you have text or numbers that spill outside the row and you want the row to grow automatically to show everything, double-click the border between the two row numbers. Excel measures the tallest content in that row and stretches the row just enough to display it all without cutting anything off.

This is especially useful when you paste data from another source and the rows are too short to show what you pasted. Instead of manually dragging each one, select all the rows that need fixing, then double-click any border between them. Every selected row will auto-fit at once.

Setting the same height for many rows at once

If you want 20 rows to all be exactly 25 points tall, select them first. Click the first row number, then hold Shift and click the last row number in the group you want. All rows between them will highlight in blue.

Right-click any of the highlighted row numbers and select Row Height. Type the number you want — for example, 25 — and click OK. Every selected row becomes that height when ready. This is much faster than dragging each one individually or changing them one at a time.

Why you might want to change row height

The most common reason is readability. If you have a spreadsheet with lots of data and small font, making rows taller gives your eyes more breathing room and makes the sheet easier to scan. Headers often look better when they are taller than data rows.

Another reason is to fit more information on one screen. If you are working with a large dataset and your monitor shows only 20 rows at a time, making rows shorter lets you see 30 or 40 rows without scrolling. This helps you spot patterns or compare distant rows without losing your place.

You might also need taller rows if you are wrapping text — when you turn on text wrapping, Excel does not automatically make the row taller, so you have to do it yourself to see all the wrapped text.

Resetting rows to the default height

If you have changed row heights and want to start over, select the rows you want to reset. Click the first row number, hold Shift, and click the last one. Right-click and select Row Height, then type 15 (the default) and click OK.

If you want to reset every row in the entire sheet at once, click the box in the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet — this selects the whole sheet. Then right-click any row number, choose Row Height, type 15, and click OK.

The difference between dragging and typing a number

Dragging the border is faster when you just want a row to look right on your screen. You do not have to think about measurements; you just move it until it looks good. This is how most people adjust row height most of the time.

Typing an exact number matters when you need rows to be consistent across a spreadsheet or when you are sharing the file with others and want them to see the same layout. It also matters if you are building a template that will be used the same way every time. Once you set a row to 20 points, it stays 20 points no matter who opens the file or what device they use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make just one cell taller without making the whole row taller?

No. In Excel, row height applies to the entire row — all cells in that row become the same height. If you need one cell to show more text, use text wrapping to break the text into multiple lines within that cell, then make the row taller to show all the wrapped text.

What if I drag the row border and it does not move?

Make sure your cursor is exactly on the line between two row numbers. The cursor should change to a resize arrow with a line through it. If you are clicking on the row number itself or in the middle of a row, it will not resize. Move your cursor up or down slightly until you see the arrow.

How do I make all rows the same height without typing a number?

Select all rows by clicking the box in the top-left corner where row numbers and column letters meet. Then double-click any border between two row numbers. Excel auto-fits every row to its content, so rows with more text become taller and rows with less text become shorter — they will not all be identical, but they will all fit their content.

Does changing row height affect the data in the cells?

No. Changing row height only changes how the row looks on screen and in print. The actual data stays the same. You can make a row 50 points tall or 5 points tall, and the numbers and text inside do not change.

Can I undo a row height change?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) when ready after you change the height, and Excel will undo it. If you changed the height a while ago and want to undo it now, you can still press Ctrl+Z, but it will undo your most recent action instead — which might not be the row height change.