Change line spacing in Excel by adjusting row height

Excel does not have a built-in "line spacing" tool the way Word does. Instead, you control the space between lines of text within a cell by increasing the row height. When you make a row taller, text that wraps to multiple lines inside a cell spreads out vertically.

The most direct way is to position your cursor on the border between two row numbers on the left side of the sheet, then drag downward. The row expands, and any wrapped text inside spreads out. You can also right-click a row number, select Row Height, and type a specific measurement in points.

This method works for any text in the row, whether it is a single line or multiple lines within one cell. If you only want to adjust spacing for text in one cell, you will need to either isolate that cell in its own row or use the text wrapping and row height combination together.

Key Takeaways

  • Excel controls line spacing by changing row height, not through a dedicated spacing menu like Word.
  • Drag the border between row numbers to adjust height visually, or right-click and enter a specific point size.
  • Text must be set to wrap within the cell before row height changes will create visible spacing between lines.
  • Increasing row height affects the entire row, so all cells in that row will be taller.
  • If you need different spacing in different rows, adjust each row individually or group rows and set them together.

Enable text wrapping so spacing is visible

Before adjusting row height, make sure text wrapping is turned on. Without it, text either stays on one line or spills into the next cell, and changing row height will not create the effect you want.

Select the cell or cells where you want wrapped text. Go to the Home tab, find the Alignment group, and click Wrap Text. The button will highlight when it is active. Now when you increase row height, text will break into multiple lines within the cell, and the extra space will be visible between those lines.

If text is already wrapping but looks cramped, row height is your next step. If text is not wrapping at all, enable it first, then adjust the row.

Drag row borders to adjust height quickly

The fastest visual method is to use your mouse. Look at the row numbers on the left side of the sheet (1, 2, 3, and so on). Position your cursor on the line between two row numbers until it changes to a resize cursor—a double-headed arrow pointing up and down.

Click and drag downward to make the row taller. As you drag, you will see the row expand in real time. Release the mouse when the spacing looks right. This method is intuitive and requires no menu navigation.

If you want to adjust multiple rows at once, select all of them first by clicking the first row number, holding Shift, and clicking the last row number. Then drag the border of any selected row, and all selected rows will resize together.

Use the Row Height dialog for precise measurements

If you need an exact height rather than a visual estimate, use the dialog box. Right-click on the row number you want to adjust and select Row Height from the menu.

A small dialog will appear with a text field. Enter the height you want in points. Excel's default row height is usually 15 points. Increasing it to 20 or 25 points will noticeably spread out wrapped text. Type your number and click OK.

If you are not sure what size to use, start with 20 points and adjust from there. You can always right-click and change it again if the spacing is not what you wanted.

Auto-fit row height to match content

Excel can automatically adjust row height to fit the content inside. This is useful if you have wrapped text of varying lengths and want each row to be just tall enough without extra blank space.

Select the rows you want to auto-fit. Right-click and choose Row Height, or go to the Home tab, click the Format button in the Cells group, and select AutoFit Row Height. Excel will measure the tallest wrapped text in each row and set the height accordingly.

This is faster than manual adjustment if you have many rows with different amounts of text. Note that auto-fit removes any extra space you added manually, so use it only when you want the row to be exactly as tall as the content requires.

Adjust line spacing within a cell using manual line breaks

If you want more control over spacing within a single cell, you can insert manual line breaks. This is different from row height but works alongside it.

Click inside the cell and position your cursor where you want a new line to start. Press Alt + Enter (on Windows) or Control + Option + Enter (on Mac). The text will move to the next line within the same cell. Then increase the row height to add space between those lines.

This method lets you control exactly where text breaks, rather than relying on automatic wrapping. It is useful when you want a specific layout within a cell, such as a name on one line and a title on another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing row height affect the entire row or just one cell?

Changing row height affects the entire row. All cells in that row will be taller. If you need different spacing in different cells, you will need to place them in separate rows or accept that the whole row will be the same height.

What is the difference between row height and line spacing?

Row height is the vertical space of the entire row. Line spacing is the gap between individual lines of text within a cell. In Excel, you control line spacing indirectly by increasing row height and using text wrapping. Word has a dedicated line spacing tool; Excel does not.

Can I set different row heights for different rows at the same time?

You can adjust multiple rows together only if you want them all to be the same height. Select the rows, then drag or use the Row Height dialog. To set different heights for different rows, adjust each row individually or select groups of rows that should be the same height.

What happens if I increase row height but text is not wrapping?

The row will be taller, but the text will stay on one line and will not spread out. Enable text wrapping first so that text breaks into multiple lines. Then increase row height to add space between those lines.

How do I undo a row height change?

Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) when ready after making the change. If you have made other changes since, you can right-click the row and select Row Height, then enter the original height (usually 15 points for default rows).