How to make all cells the same size in excel
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To make all cells the same size in Excel, select the cells you want to resize, then adjust both the column width and row height to uniform values through the Format menu or by using the ribbon commands.
Methods to Resize All Cells Uniformly
Method 1: Using Select All and Manual Adjustment
- Click the Select All button (the triangle where row numbers and column letters meet) or press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac)
- Right-click any column header
- Select "Column Width" from the context menu
- Enter your desired width value (default is 8.43)
- Click OK
- Right-click any row number
- Select "Row Height" from the context menu
- Enter your desired height value (default is 15)
- Click OK
Method 2: Using the Format Menu
- Select the range of cells you want to resize
- Navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon
- Click Format in the Cells group
- Choose "Row Height" and set a specific value
- Click Format again
- Choose "Column Width" and set a specific value
Method 3: Using AutoFit Then Manual Override
- Select your target cells
- Double-click the boundary between any two column headers to AutoFit columns
- Double-click the boundary between any two row numbers to AutoFit rows
- Select all cells again
- Manually set a uniform width and height using the Format menu
What Are the Default Cell Dimensions
Excel cells have standard dimensions of 8.43 characters wide (64 pixels) and 15 points high (20 pixels). These measurements represent the default settings in Excel and may vary based on your default font settings.
How to Create Square Cells
To create square cells, you need different numerical values for width and height because Excel measures them differently:
- Set column width to 2.14
- Set row height to 15
- These values create approximately square cells on most displays
The ratio varies based on your screen resolution and zoom level, so you may need to adjust these values slightly.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Cell Sizing
Windows shortcuts:
- Alt + H + O + W: Set column width
- Alt + H + O + H: Set row height
- Alt + H + O + I: AutoFit column width
- Alt + H + O + A: AutoFit row height
Mac shortcuts:
- Control + Shift + W: Set column width
- Control + Shift + H: Set row height
How to Lock Cell Size to Prevent Changes
To lock cell dimensions after setting them:
- Select all cells you want to protect
- Right-click and choose "Format Cells"
- Navigate to the Protection tab
- Check "Locked"
- Go to the Review tab on the ribbon
- Click "Protect Sheet"
- Enter a password (optional)
- Select which actions to allow
- Click OK
Working with Multiple Worksheets
To apply the same cell size across multiple worksheets:
- Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each sheet tab you want to modify
- Make your cell size adjustments on the active sheet
- The changes apply to all selected sheets simultaneously
- Right-click any selected tab and choose "Ungroup Sheets" when finished
Common Size Presets for Different Uses
Different tasks benefit from specific cell dimensions:
Data tables: Width 10, Height 20 provides comfortable reading space for numbers and text
Calendar layouts: Width 15, Height 40 creates cells suitable for daily entries
Grid designs: Width 2.14, Height 15 produces square cells for charts or game boards
Compact reports: Width 6, Height 12.75 maximizes visible data on screen
Troubleshooting Size Adjustment Issues
Cells won't resize: The worksheet may be protected. Go to Review tab and click "Unprotect Sheet"
Sizes keep changing: Turn off AutoFit by avoiding double-clicking column or row boundaries
Different sizes after copying: Use "Paste Special" and select "Column widths" to maintain formatting
Merged cells interfering: Unmerge cells before resizing by selecting them and clicking "Merge & Center" to toggle it off
Using VBA for Precise Control
For exact pixel dimensions, Visual Basic for Applications provides precise control:
- Press Alt + F11 (Windows) or Fn + Option + F11 (Mac) to open VBA editor
- Insert a new module
- Enter code to set specific dimensions
- Run the macro to apply changes
This method ensures pixel-perfect accuracy across different displays and Excel versions.
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