Altering Row Height

Altering row height makes the best use of the worksheet space, just like adjusting column width does. You can set the row height manually or let Excel make the adjustments for you with its AutoFit feature.

By default, Excel makes a row a bit taller than the tallest text in the row. For instance, if the tallest text is 10 points tall, Excel makes the row 13.5 points tall. The default row height is set to 13.5 points, based on the default font size, 10 points.

In the upcoming To Do exercise, you alter row height with a mouse.

To Do: Alter Row Height

1. Move the mouse pointer to the bottom row header borders, row 1. You should see a double-headed arrow. Use the bottom border of the row header to adjust row height.

2. Hold down the mouse button and drag the border. As you are dragging the border, Excel shows you the row height in a ScreenTip (a buff- color box).

3. When you see a height of 30.00 in the ScreenTip, release the mouse button. Excel makes the row taller.

To change the row height for two or more rows, click and drag over the row headers with the mouse pointer. Then release the mouse button. Move the mouse pointer to one of the row header borders. Use the bottom border of the row header to alter row height. Hold down the mouse button and drag the border. Release the mouse button, and the row height is adjusted for all the rows you selected.

Excel's AutoFit feature lets you quickly make a row as tall as its tallest entry. Simply double-click the bottom border of the row header. To change more than one row at a time, click and drag over the desired row headers and then double-click the bottom row header border.