Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Inserting a Picture in Your Worksheet.

Inserting a Picture in Your Worksheet

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 3, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365


Excel allows you to insert a wide range of picture (graphic) types in your worksheets. You can insert the following types:

Picture Type Filename Extension
Compressed Windows Enhanced Metafile EMZ
Compressed Macintosh PICT PCZ
Compressed Windows Metafile WMZ
Computer Graphics Metafile CGM
Encapsulated PostScript EPS
Graphics Interchange Format GIF
JPEG File Interchange Format JPG, JPEG, JFIF, JPE
Macintosh PICT PCT, PICT
Portable Network Graphics PNG
Scalable Vector Graphics SVG
Tagged Image File Format TIF, TIFF
Windows Bitmap BMP, DIB, RLE
Windows Enhanced Metafile EMF
Windows Metafile WMF
WordPerfect Graphics WPG

This list looks very inclusive, but you may not be able to insert all of these on your system. The graphic files you can actually import depends on which import filters you installed. (They were installed when you installed Excel or Office.)

To insert a picture in your workbook, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the Insert tab of the ribbon is displayed.
  2. Click the Picture tool. Excel displays the Insert Picture dialog box.
  3. Using the drop-down list to the right of the File Name field, choose the type of graphics file you want to insert.
  4. Use the controls in the dialog box to locate and choose a filename for the picture you want to insert.
  5. Click on Insert.

Excel inserts the picture. You can then use the Format tab of the ribbon to make formatting changes to the image.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7760) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Inserting a Picture in Your Worksheet.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Changing AutoComplete Words

AutoComplete allows you to easily complete words you are typing in your document. If AutoComplete is presenting you with ...

Discover More

Understanding Lists

What is a list of data, and how do you create one? Here are some guidelines you may find helpful.

Discover More

Printing Comments

Comments can be a boon when you want to annotate your worksheets. If you want, you can instruct Excel to print the ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Resize Graphics Outside of Excel

Graphics are a common addition to almost any workbook. If you need to change the size of your graphics (which Excel lets ...

Discover More

Images Pile Up when Filtering

If you have a worksheet that has numerous pictures in a column, you may get an unwanted surprise when you try to filter ...

Discover More

Having an Image Appear Multiple Times in a Worksheet

If you want an image to appear more than once in a worksheet, there are a few ways you can approach the issue. This tip ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.