Change the default font Excel uses when you open a new workbook

Excel starts every new workbook with Calibri 11-point as the default font. To change this so your preferred font appears automatically in all new spreadsheets, you need to modify the default template that Excel uses. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Excel on Windows or Mac, but both routes take about two minutes.

The fastest way is to create a blank workbook, set the font you want, save it as a template in Excel's startup folder, and name it correctly. Excel will then read that template every time you create a new file. You do not need to touch any settings menus or restart the program.

Key Takeaways

  • Excel's default font is Calibri 11-point, and changing it requires saving a custom template file in a specific folder on your computer.
  • On Windows, create a blank workbook, change the font to your choice, then save it as an Excel Template (.xltx) named "Book" in the XLSTART folder.
  • On Mac, follow the same steps but save the template in the Excel Startup folder, which is located inside your user Library folder.
  • Once the template is saved in the correct location with the correct name, every new workbook you create will use your chosen font instead of Calibri.
  • Changing the default font affects only new workbooks; existing files keep their original formatting.

Steps for Windows: Save a template in the XLSTART folder

Open Excel and create a blank workbook. Select all cells by clicking the box at the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet. Right-click and choose Format Cells, or press Ctrl+1. Click the Font tab and select the font and size you want—for example, Arial 12-point or Times New Roman 10-point. Click OK.

Now save this workbook as a template. Press Ctrl+S or go to File > Save As. In the dialog box, change the file type dropdown from "Excel Workbook" to Excel Template (.xltx). Name the file exactly Book (no other name will work). Do not change the folder yet—Excel will show you the default save location.

The folder path should end with XLSTART. On most Windows computers, this is C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. If Excel does not show this path, navigate there manually by typing it into the folder field. Click Save. Close Excel completely and reopen it. The next new workbook you create will use your chosen font.

Steps for Mac: Save a template in the Excel Startup folder

Open Excel and create a blank workbook. Click the box at the top-left corner to select all cells. Right-click and choose Format Cells, or press Command+1. Click the Font tab, select your preferred font and size, and click OK.

Go to File > Save As. Change the file format dropdown to Excel Template (.xltx). Name the file exactly Book. In the location dropdown, navigate to your user Library folder. The path is Macintosh HD > Users > [Your Username] > Library > process Support > Microsoft > Office > User Templates > Excel Startup. If the Excel Startup folder does not exist, create it. Click Save, close Excel, and reopen it. New workbooks will now use your font.

Verify the change worked

After saving the template and restarting Excel, open a new blank workbook. Click any cell and look at the font name and size in the toolbar at the top. It should show your chosen font, not Calibri. If it still shows Calibri, check that the template file is named exactly Book.xltx (not "Book1" or "MyBook") and that it is in the correct folder.

A common mistake is saving the template with a different name or in the wrong location. Excel looks only for a file named Book.xltx in the XLSTART or Excel Startup folder. If the file is anywhere else or has a different name, Excel will ignore it and use Calibri as the default.

Change the default font for specific workbooks only

If you want to change the font in a workbook you already have open, but not affect all future workbooks, you do not need a template. Select all cells, go to Home > Font, and choose your font. Save the file. This change applies only to that one workbook.

You can also create multiple templates with different fonts and save them with different names—for example, "Book.xltx" for your default, "Report.xltx" for reports, and "Budget.xltx" for budgets. When you go to File > New, you will see these templates listed and can choose which one to use.

Undo the default font change

If you want to go back to Calibri as the default, delete the Book.xltx template file from the XLSTART folder (Windows) or Excel Startup folder (Mac). Restart Excel, and new workbooks will revert to Calibri 11-point.

You can also replace the template by creating a new blank workbook, setting the font back to Calibri 11-point, and saving it as Book.xltx in the same location. This overwrites the old template with the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the default font affect files I already have open?

No. The template change applies only to new workbooks you create after saving the template. Existing files keep their original fonts. If you want to change the font in an open file, select all cells and change it manually.

What if I cannot find the XLSTART or Excel Startup folder?

On Windows, the folder may be hidden. Open File Explorer, go to View, and check the box for Hidden items. Then navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and paste the path ~/Library/process Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/Excel Startup.

Can I set different default fonts for different sheet tabs?

The template method sets the font for the entire workbook. If you want different fonts on different sheets, you must change them manually after creating the workbook. Select each sheet and format it separately.

Does the template method work with older versions of Excel?

Yes, but the file format and folder location may differ. Excel 2007 and later use the .xltx format and the XLSTART folder. If you use an older version, check your Excel documentation for the correct template folder path.

What happens if I name the template file something other than "Book"?

Excel will not use it as the default template. The file must be named exactly Book.xltx in the correct startup folder for Excel to read it when you create a new workbook. Any other name will be ignored.