The fastest way to change row height

To change the height of a row in Excel, position your cursor on the border between two row numbers on the left side of the spreadsheet until it turns into a double-headed arrow, then drag up or down. Release the mouse when the row reaches the height you want. This works for a single row or multiple rows at once — select the rows first, then drag the border of any selected row.

If you need an exact measurement, right-click the row number, select Row Height from the menu, and type the number you want. Excel measures row height in points (a printer's unit where 72 points equals one inch). The default row height is usually 15 points.

You can also double-click the border between row numbers to auto-fit the height to whatever content is in that row. This is useful when you have wrapped text or tall content and want Excel to size the row automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the border between row numbers to resize a single row or multiple selected rows at once.
  • Right-click a row number and choose Row Height to enter an exact measurement in points.
  • Double-click the border between row numbers to auto-fit the row height to its content.
  • You can select non-adjacent rows by holding Ctrl while clicking row numbers, then resize them all together.
  • Row height changes explore only to the rows you select and do not affect other rows in the sheet.

Selecting multiple rows before resizing

If you want to change the height of several rows at the same time, select them first. Click the first row number, then hold Shift and click the last row number to select a continuous block. To select rows that are not next to each other, click the first row, then hold Ctrl and click each additional row number.

Once your rows are selected (they will appear highlighted in blue), position your cursor on the border between any of the selected row numbers and drag. All selected rows will resize together to the same height. This saves time when you are formatting a table or making multiple rows taller to fit wrapped text.

Using the Format menu for precise control

The Format menu in the ribbon gives you another way to set row height. Select the row or rows you want to change, then click the Format button in the Home tab (or Format tab in older Excel versions). Look for the Row Height option in the dropdown menu.

A dialog box will open where you can type the exact height in points. This method is useful when you need the same height across multiple rows and want to avoid the guesswork of dragging. You can also use the Optimal Height or AutoFit option from the same menu, which automatically adjusts the row to fit the tallest content in that row.

Auto-fit vs. manual height

Auto-fit (also called optimal height) measures the content in your row and sizes the row just large enough to display everything without cutting it off. This is helpful when you have text that wraps across multiple lines or when you paste data and do not know how tall the row needs to be.

Manual height gives you control when auto-fit is too tall or too short for what you want. For example, you might want rows slightly taller than the content for visual breathing room, or you might want them shorter to fit more data on one page when printing. Manual sizing overrides auto-fit until you change it again.

Resizing all rows at once

To change the height of every row in your sheet, click the Select All button — the small box where the row numbers and column letters meet in the top-left corner. Then drag the border between any two row numbers, or use the Format menu to set a specific height.

Be careful with this approach: it will change every row in the sheet, including rows you may not have noticed. If you only want to resize rows in a certain area, select just those rows instead of using Select All.

Common reasons to change row height

You might need to increase row height when you have text that wraps to multiple lines, when you add merged cells, or when you want more space between rows for readability. You might decrease it to fit more data on a printed page or to match a specific layout.

If you have a row with a tall image or a large font size, you may need to increase the height so the content is not cut off. Excel does not automatically expand rows when you paste tall content, so you have to resize manually or use auto-fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default row height in Excel?

The default row height is 15 points, which is about one-fifth of an inch. Some versions of Excel or different regional settings may use a slightly different default, but 15 points is the standard. You can always check the current height by right-clicking a row and looking at the Row Height dialog.

Can I undo a row height change?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z when ready after resizing a row to undo the change. If you have made other changes since then, you can still undo the row height change by pressing Ctrl+Z multiple times to step backward through your recent actions.

Why is my text cut off even after I increased the row height?

If text is still cut off, the problem is usually column width, not row height. Row height controls vertical space; column width controls horizontal space. Make sure the column is wide enough for the text, or enable text wrapping in the Format menu so the text breaks into multiple lines within the cell.

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 in the cells stays the same. You can resize rows as many times as you want without affecting the content.

Can I set a minimum or maximum row height?

Excel does not have a built-in minimum or maximum row height setting. You can set any height you want by dragging or typing a number in the Row Height dialog. If you want to prevent accidental resizing, you can protect the sheet, but this is an advanced feature and is not necessary for most users.