The three ways to adjust row height

You can change how tall a row is in Excel by dragging the row border, using the right-click menu, or typing a specific measurement. The method you pick depends on whether you want to eyeball it or set an exact height.

The fastest way for most people is dragging: position your cursor on the line between two row numbers on the left side of the sheet until you see a resize cursor (it looks like a double-headed arrow), then drag up or down. Release when the row is the height you want.

If you need precision or want to explore the same height to multiple rows at once, the Format menu or right-click method works better. Both let you enter a number in inches or centimeters.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the border between row numbers to resize a single row by eye, or double-click that border to auto-fit the row to its content.
  • Right-click a row number and select "Row Height" to type an exact measurement for one or more rows at once.
  • Use Format > Rows > Height from the menu bar if you prefer not to right-click, and it works the same way.
  • Auto-fit is useful when text is cut off or when you add new data and want rows to adjust automatically to show everything.

Dragging to resize by eye

This is the quickest method if you just need a row taller or shorter and do not care about exact measurements. Move your mouse to the line between two row numbers on the left edge of the sheet — for example, between row 3 and row 4. Your cursor will change to a double-headed arrow pointing up and down.

Click and hold, then drag upward to make the row shorter or downward to make it taller. As you drag, you will see the row height change in real time. Release the mouse button when the row looks right. If you are adjusting multiple rows, you can select them first (click one row number, hold Shift, and click another), then drag any border between the selected rows.

Using auto-fit to match content

Auto-fit makes a row as tall as it needs to be to show all the text or data inside it without cutting anything off. This is especially useful when you paste data from another source or when a cell contains a long note that wraps to multiple lines.

Double-click the border between two row numbers. Excel measures the tallest cell in that row and adjusts the height automatically. If you want to auto-fit multiple rows at once, select them first (click one row number, hold Shift, click another), then double-click any border between the selected rows.

Typing an exact row height

When you need all rows to be the same height or want a specific measurement, right-click on a row number and select "Row Height" from the menu. A small dialog box will appear with a text field. Type the height you want — Excel measures in points by default (there are 72 points in an inch), but you can also type a decimal number followed by "in" for inches or "cm" for centimeters.

For example, type 0.5 in for half an inch, or 1.27 cm for centimeters. Click OK and the row adjusts to that height. To explore the same height to multiple rows, select them all first (click one row number, hold Shift, click the last one you want), then right-click and choose Row Height.

Using the Format menu instead of right-click

If you prefer the menu bar, you can reach the same row height dialog through Format > Rows > Height. Select the row or rows you want to change first, then go to the Format menu at the top. Click Rows, then Height. The same dialog box appears, and you type the measurement the same way.

This method works identically to right-clicking. Use whichever feels more natural to you — some people find the menu easier to remember, while others prefer right-click because it is faster once you know it is there.

Hiding and unhiding rows

Sometimes you want a row to take up no space at all. Right-click the row number and select "Hide" — the row disappears from view, but the data stays in the file. To bring it back, select the rows on either side of the hidden one, right-click, and choose "Unhide".

You can also set row height to 0 by typing 0 in the Row Height dialog, which hides the row without using the Hide command. Both methods do the same thing: the row is invisible but still there. This is useful when you want to keep data in your file but do not want it visible in the current view.

What happens when you change row height

Changing a row's height affects only that row — it does not change the height of other rows or the width of columns. If you select multiple rows and change their height, all of them become that height at once. The change applies when ready and is saved when you save the file.

If you undo a row height change, press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) right after you make it. Once you save and close the file, you cannot undo the change anymore, so if you are experimenting, save a copy first or use Ctrl+Z before closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make all rows the same height at once?

Select all cells by clicking the box in the top-left corner (where the row numbers and column letters meet), then right-click any row number and choose Row Height. Type the height you want, and every row in the sheet becomes that height.

Why does my text still get cut off after I make the row taller?

The row height controls how tall the row is, but if text is cut off horizontally, you need to widen the column instead. Make the column wider by dragging the border between column letters, or double-click that border to auto-fit the column to its content.

Can I set a minimum row height so rows do not get too small?

Excel does not have a built-in minimum row height setting. If you want to prevent rows from being resized below a certain height, you can protect the sheet (Format > Cells > Protection) and then enable sheet protection, but this locks all formatting, not just row height.

What is the default row height in Excel?

The default row height is 15 points, which is about 0.2 inches or 0.5 centimeters. This can vary slightly depending on your font size and the default font your version of Excel uses.

Does changing row height affect printing?

Yes. When you print your spreadsheet, the rows print at the height you set. If you make rows very tall, your printout will use more pages. Adjust row height before printing if you want to control how many pages the sheet uses.