Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Understanding Monospace Fonts.
In general, there are two types of fonts: proportional space and monospace. Proportional space fonts are designed so every letter only occupies the minimum horizontal space necessary for the letter. Thus, an "i" takes less space than a "w." Monospace typefaces, on the other hand, are designed so every letter and character takes the same amount of horizontal space. If you have ever spent any time working on typewriters, then you are familiar with monospace fonts—all the fonts used by typewriters fall into this category.
You can use either type of font in Excel—the only requirement is that the font be available within Windows. The type of font you select for use in your worksheets depends, in large part, on the purpose for which you are creating your worksheet. Monospace fonts are great for drafts and for pure numerical analysis. This is because every single character is the same width—the lack of "fanciness" means you can focus directly on the numbers. If you are creating a worksheet for more formal purposes or for publishing, then you will want to look toward some of the proportional fonts available on your system.
One important thing to keep in mind is that in virtually every font available, numbers are always monospace. Thus, if your worksheet contains only (or mostly) numeric data, then which font you choose to use is a purely aesthetic decision; the numbers will still line up in the font you choose.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12573) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Understanding Monospace Fonts.
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2015-12-30 18:29:28
Harry S
They are very useful in in text API's
hFont = CreateFont(Ht, FS, 0, 0, FW, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, "Courier New")
' hFont = CreateFont(HT, FS, 0, 0, 600, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, "Consolas")
Being to mono spaced fonts
When you need to know the left position of the n th letter.. Like
JFMAMJJASOND and clicking on the S gives September from the mouse position.
2015-12-30 14:35:07
Allen
Maurice,
Tips are updated to the latest version of Excel (such as 2016) as I get around to them. The tips in each week's ExcelTips newsletter all cover Excel 2016.
With thousands of tips on this site, you can imagine that updating can take some time to accomplish.
-Allen
2015-12-30 14:30:16
Maurice Linker
when will you update tips to include excell 2016.?
2015-12-30 09:21:00
Henry Noble
Ahem.
"If you have ever spent any time working on typewriters, then you are familiar with monospace fonts—all the fonts used by typewriters fall into this category."
Not so.
The IBM Executive typewriter, launched in 1944, used proportional spacing.
2015-12-30 07:27:53
Andrew
... and another general point worth knowing - albeit usually when using Word rather than Excel! - is that the width of a numeral is normally the same as two presses of the space bar so, if you have a list of prices where you have a leading currency symbol and you want all the numbers to line up right-aligned as normal whilst all the currency symbols left-aligned (one under the other), you can simply replace any missing digits with two keyspaces per missing number between the currency symbol and the first digit and all will be as required!
2013-05-16 05:34:03
Prince Attah
please i want to know about the difference between font color and tab color.
2013-03-30 08:35:32
Haw can I know if a font is mono or proportional before try with it?
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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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