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What Is Print Excel Gridlines?
Print Excel Gridlines is a feature where we ensure that the Printout of an Excel worksheet is taken with the Gridlines displayed. An Excel worksheet, by default, will have slightly visible gridlines that make up the rows and columns of the worksheet. If the gridlines are not enabled, the worksheet looks like just a blank Word document.
For example, open a worksheet, where by default the gridlines will be available, and select the cell range of the data given below.
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Now, to Print with Gridlines, press the shortcut keys โCtrl+Pโ to open the print section, and to view the Print Preview, as shown below.
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The printout will be as shown above in the print preview.
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- The Print Excel Gridlines helps us print a worksheet with the Gridlines feature, which are the rectangular boxes that make up the rows and columns in a worksheet, else it will look like a blank Word document.
- When we want to print the Excel workbook, we can also ensure to use borders to print it clearly.
- We use the shortcut keys โALT+W+VGโ to show or hide the gridlines.
- We can also remove/hide the gridlines by applying a background color โNo fillโ to the cells/selected range in the worksheet.
How To Print Gridlines In Excel Worksheet?
The simple and easy steps to Print Gridlines in Excel Worksheet are as follows:
- First, we must check/tick the โViewโ checkbox of the โGridlinesโ option in the โPage Layoutโ tab.
- Then, we must check/tick the โPrintโ checkbox of the โGridlinesโ option in the โPage Layoutโ tab to print it.
- Finally, press โCtrl+Pโ to open the โPrintโ section, and click the โPrint Previewโ to see the gridlines.
2 Different Methods To Print Excel Sheet With Gridlines
We can print with gridlines in two methods, namely:
- Using the โPage Layoutโ tab.
- Using the โPage Setupโ section.
Now, let us discuss each of the methods in detail:
Method #1 โ Using Page Layout Tab
Below is the data we want to print. It has no borders.
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The steps to print using Page Layout tab are as follows:
- Step 1: Go to the โPage Layoutโ tab > โSheet Optionsโ group > โGridlinesโ option > check the โViewโ and โPrintโ checkboxes, as shown below.
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- Step 2: Press โCtrl+Pโ to open the print section to see theprint preview, as shown below.
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Method #2 โ Using the Page Setup Tab
Below is the data we want to print. It has no borders.
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The steps to print using Page Setup tab are as follows:
- Step 1: Go to โPage Layoutโ tab > โPage Setupโ group > โPage Setupโ box at the right-bottom > click the box, as shown below.
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- Step 2: Go to the โSHEETโ tab in the โPage Setupโ dialog box.
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- Step 3: Under the โSHEETโ tab, we have a โPRINTโ section. Here, check/tick the โGridlinesโ checkbox.

- Step 4: After you have selected the option โGridlines,โ at the end of this dialog box, click on "Print Preview" in excel.
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- Step 5: It will show the print preview with gridlines, as shown below.

How To Print Gridlines With Different Colors?
By default, the gridline color is light gray in Excel. While printing, the gridline with the default color looks very subtle. We can change the color of the grid line according to our preference and make the line more beautiful. Follow the below steps to change the color of the gridline.
- Step 1: Go to the โFileโ option, then select โOptions.โ"
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- Step 2: Under โOptions,โ go to โAdvanced.โ
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- Step 3: After selecting โAdvanced,โ scroll down, and choose โDisplay options for this worksheet.โ
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- Step 4: In this section, at the bottom, we have an option called โGridlinesโ color.
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- Step 5: Select the color as per your requirement.
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- Step 6: Now, we have a pink grid line, as shown below.
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Important Things To Note
- Whatever changes you make for the gridline apply only to the current worksheet. For each sheet, you have to do it separately.
- Removing and using gridlines is applicable for the whole worksheet, not the worksheetโs portion.
- We can remove the gridline in one shot by holding the control key, selecting all the worksheets, and clicking remove gridlines.
- Excel cannot print the gridlines without your insistence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The alternate way to Print in Excel is using the shortcut keys โCtrl+Pโ. Once we select the shortcut, the Print option opens, and the rest is the same as we learnt.
The Gridlines in Excel are added in a worksheet in 2 methods, as follows:
Method #1 - First, keep the workbook open - select the โViewโ tab - go to the โShowโ group - check/tick the โGridlinesโ option checkbox, as shown below.
The Gridlines in Excel are removed in a worksheet in 2 methods, as follows:
โข Method #1 - First, keep the workbook open - select the โViewโ tab - go to the โShowโ group - uncheck the โGridlinesโ option checkbox, as shown below.
โข Method #2 - First, keep the workbook open - select the โPage Layoutโ tab - go to the โSheet Optionsโ group - uncheck the โViewโ option checkbox under the โGridlinesโ category, as shown below.
Now, in both scenarios, once the gridlines are removed, the worksheet looks like a blank Word document.
A few reasons the Print Excel Gridlines may not work are as follows:
โข In the Page Layout tab, we have only checked/ticked the Gridlines and not the โPrintโ option.
โข We have not checked/ticked the Gridline option at all, for the printouts to display gridlines.
We can lock the set print area as follows:
โข First, select the area you want to print, a cell range, or a dataset.
โข Next, select the โPage Layoutโ tab - go to the โPage Setupโ group - click the โPrint Areaโ option drop-down - select the โSet Print Areaโ option, as shown below.
โข Finally, we can see the selected cells locked, and ready to print, as shown below.
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This article is a guide to Print Excel Gridlines. Here we print with gridlines & colors, using Page Layout, Page Setup methods, examples, downloadable template. You may also look at these useful functions in Excel: -
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