Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 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: Out of Kilter Borders.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 30, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Karl expressed frustration with a printing problem. It seems that if he printed a worksheet without borders turned on, it printed fine. If, instead, he printed with borders turned on, then the cell contents and borders would overprint just a bit.
There are several things to check. First, you should always check to ensure that you are using the latest printer driver, and that the printer driver is designed specifically for the make and model of printer you are using.
Second, increase the magnification (zoom) on your worksheet so you can see small details. Then, turn the borders on and display the worksheet in Print Preview. Go back to regular mode and make any column width adjustments necessary to accommodate the borders. (Borders do occupy space; you may need to adjust column width to allow for them properly.)
If desired, you can use AutoFit to adjust the column width to whatever Excel thinks is necessary for the columns. (Display the Home tab of the ribbon and then click the Format tool in the Cells group. In the resulting choices, choose AutoFit Column Width.) If the printout will no longer fit on the desired number of pages after adjusting column width, you may need to adjust margins and other print settings to get just the output you want.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10087) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Out of Kilter Borders.
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2024-01-30 15:04:25
Kiwerry
@ John: Could it be that Rene is referring to Custom Formatting?
2020-05-09 18:39:49
John Mann
I;m wondering which version of Excel Rene is using. In my Ecel 2010, I cannot find the <format ><custom> option (maybe a case of "can't see for looking"). If I use the alignmebt options dialogue box from the Algnment group on the home tab, then I find that I can set either a left indent, or a right indent, but not both.
2020-04-25 06:39:12
Rene
You can also adjust the formatting of the cell contents. In the <format ><custom> option., add a space at the beginning of the format and ensure that there is also a space at the end. This way the borders will never overwrite the contents, providing the column width is wide enough or you wrap text.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 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:
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