Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 20, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
There are several different types of underlines you can use in Excel. Underlining of information within cells is handled by displaying the Home tab of the ribbon and, within the Cells group, clicking the down-arrow to the right of Format and choosing Format Cells. Excel displays the Format Cells dialog box; you should make sure the Font tab is visible. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The Font tab of the Format Cells dialog box.
In the Underline box, in the lower-left corner, you can select any of five different underline types.
Underline Type | Meaning | |
---|---|---|
None | Removes any underlining from the cell contents. | |
Single | Adds a single underline, the width of the cell contents. | |
Double | Adds a double-line underline, the width of the cell contents. | |
Single Accounting | Adds a single underline that is noticeably lower than the Single underline. In addition, the width of the underline extends the entire cell width if the cell contains text or dates. | |
Double Accounting | Adds a double-line underline that is noticeably lower than the Double underline. In addition, the width of the underline extends the entire cell width if the cell contains text or dates. |
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9007) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Understanding Underlines.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
Want to copy formatting from one cell and paste it into another cell? It's easy to do if you use the Paste Special ...
Discover MoreApplying different formatting to the text within a cell can seem a bit confusing. This is certainly the case when it ...
Discover MoreInformation in a worksheet needs to be displayed using fonts. If you understand the two different types of fonts ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-05-29 09:44:17
John Mann
There are also the options of using the Border tab on the Format Cells dialogue box. This provides several options to provide lines on the bottom edge of the cell, with for more line styles than the Font underline choices. The results are, of course, somewhat different from the 'font options - choices for the user.
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments