The quickest 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 resize arrow, then drag up or down. This works in Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web version. The row will expand or shrink as you drag.

If you want to set an exact height instead of dragging by eye, right-click the row number, select Row Height from the menu, type the measurement you want in the dialog box, and click OK. Excel measures row height in points — one point equals 1/72 of an inch, so a row height of 15 points is roughly a quarter-inch tall.

You can also select multiple rows at once and change them all to the same height. Click the first row number, hold Shift, and click the last row number in the group you want to resize. Then drag the border between any of the selected rows, or right-click and choose Row Height.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the border between row numbers to resize by eye, or right-click a row number and choose Row Height to enter an exact measurement.
  • Row height is measured in points, where 15 points is roughly a quarter-inch and 20 points is roughly a third of an inch.
  • You can select multiple rows at once using Shift+click and resize them all to the same height in one action.
  • Double-clicking the border between row numbers auto-fits the row to the tallest content inside it, useful when text wraps or contains multiple lines.
  • The web version of Excel and the desktop versions (Windows and Mac) all use the same resize method.

Using the drag method for quick adjustments

The drag method is the fastest way to resize a single row when you do not need an exact measurement. Move your mouse to the line between the row number you want to change and the row below it — the cursor will shift from a pointer to a double-headed arrow pointing up and down. Once you see that arrow, click and hold, then drag upward to make the row shorter or downward to make it taller.

As you drag, Excel shows you the height in points in a small tooltip. This is helpful if you want to match the height to another row — you can drag one row, note the height, then drag the second row to the same number. Release the mouse button when the row reaches the height you want.

If you overshoot, you can always drag again to fine-tune. There is no penalty for adjusting multiple times, and the change takes effect when ready without needing to confirm anything.

Setting an exact row height with the dialog box

When you need a precise measurement — for example, to make all rows in a section exactly 25 points tall — use the Row Height dialog instead of dragging. Right-click on the row number (or on any selected row if you have multiple rows chosen) and click Row Height. A small box will appear with a text field showing the current height.

Clear the existing number and type the height you want. Common heights are 15 points for standard text, 20 points for slightly more breathing room, and 30 points for rows that contain wrapped text or larger fonts. Click OK and the row will jump to that exact height when ready.

If you are not sure what height to use, start with 20 points and adjust from there. You can always open the dialog again and change it if the row is too tall or too short for what you are trying to fit inside it.

Auto-fitting row height to content

Excel can automatically adjust a row to fit whatever is inside it — useful when you have text that wraps across multiple lines or a cell with a large font. Double-click the border between the row number you want to fit and the row below it. Excel will measure the tallest content in that row and expand it just enough to show everything without cutting anything off.

If you have multiple rows with wrapped text and you want to auto-fit them all at once, select all the rows first (click the first row number, hold Shift, click the last row number), then double-click any border between two selected rows. All selected rows will auto-fit to their content at the same time.

Auto-fit is especially useful after you have wrapped text in a column. Instead of manually figuring out how tall each row needs to be, let Excel do the math for you. The row will never be taller than necessary, so you will not waste space.

Resizing multiple rows to the same height

To make several rows the same height at once, start by selecting them. Click the first row number, then hold Shift and click the last row number in the range. All rows between them will highlight in blue. You can also select non-consecutive rows by holding Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and clicking individual row numbers, though this is less common.

Once your rows are selected, you have two options. You can drag the border between any two of the selected rows — all selected rows will resize together. Or you can right-click and choose Row Height, then enter the exact height you want for all of them. This is much faster than resizing rows one at a time, especially if you have ten or twenty rows to adjust.

This technique is useful when you are formatting a table and want consistent spacing, or when you are preparing a document to print and need rows to fit a specific layout.

Undoing a row height change

If you resize a row and then realize it was a mistake, press Ctrl+Z (or Command+Z on Mac) to undo the change. Excel will restore the row to its previous height. You can undo multiple times if you made several changes in a row.

If you have already saved the file and closed it, you cannot undo the change. For this reason, it is a good idea to save your work before making large formatting changes, so you have a checkpoint to return to if something goes wrong.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is clicking on the row number itself instead of the border between row numbers. If you click the row number, the entire row will select (highlight in blue) instead of showing the resize cursor. To fix this, move your mouse slightly down until the cursor changes to the resize arrow, then drag.

Another mistake is dragging too far and making a row much taller than intended. If this happens, undo with Ctrl+Z and try again more slowly. The tooltip showing the height in points will help you stop at the right measurement.

A third mistake is forgetting that row height is measured in points, not inches or centimeters. If you type 100 in the Row Height dialog expecting 100 inches, you will get a row that is taller than your entire screen. Start with numbers between 10 and 50 and adjust from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a minimum or maximum row height?

Excel does not have a built-in minimum or maximum row height setting. You can manually set each row to a specific height, but there is no rule that prevents you from making a row taller or shorter later. If you want to enforce consistent heights across a table, select all the rows and set them to the same height using the Row Height dialog.

What is the difference between row height and row spacing?

Row height is the vertical space taken up by a single row. Row spacing (sometimes called line spacing) is the space between lines of text inside a cell. You change row height by dragging the border between row numbers or using the Row Height dialog. You change line spacing by selecting the cell, going to the Home tab, and using the line spacing options in the formatting menu.

Does changing row height affect the data in the cells?

No. Changing row height only changes how much vertical space the row takes up on the screen and when printed. The data inside the cells stays exactly the same — you are just making the row taller or shorter to fit your layout or make the spreadsheet easier to read.

How do I reset all rows to the default height?

Select all rows by clicking the button in the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet (or press Ctrl+A). Then right-click and choose Row Height, type 15 (the default), and click OK. All rows will return to the standard height.

Can I change row height in Excel on my phone or tablet?

The mobile version of Excel (on iPhone, iPad, or Android) does not support changing row height through the same drag-and-resize method. You can view and edit spreadsheets on mobile, but for detailed formatting like row height, you will need to use Excel on a computer or the web version at office.com.