Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. 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: Changing the Default Font.
David wonders how he can change the default font for Excel when he opens a new workbook. Setting the default font that you want Excel to use is actually quite easy. All you need to do is follow these steps:
Figure 1. The General options of the Excel Options dialog box.
Now every time you create a new workbook, Excel will use these settings as the default. The only times it won't is if you base a new workbook on a template or store a template named Book.xltx or Book.xltm in the XLStart folder. (In this second case, you've overridden how Excel formats a new workbook by whatever is set within the Book.xltx or Book.xltm template file.)
Also keep in mind that these steps won't change the font in any previously created workbooks; those stay as they were when you saved them.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12618) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Changing the Default Font.
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2021-11-10 11:37:40
J. Woolley
@Oliver
Please re-read the last two paragraphs of the Tip.
Default font and size can also be changed using Application properties StandardFont and StandardFontSize. For example:
Application.StandardFont = "Arial"
Application.StandardFontSize = 10
But any changes are only effective after Excel is restarted (the Tip's step 6). And the Tip's last two paragraphs still apply.
2021-11-09 14:22:56
Oliver
This only changes the font in the band under the ribbon, not in the actual cells.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. 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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