Setting Minimums and Maximums when AutoFitting Column Widths

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 12, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365

1

Ken has a worksheet with over 100 columns of varying widths. To make it readable, he selects the whole worksheet (except for the header row) and uses AutoFit Column Width. Some columns have a single digit and he loses the ability to read the header. Some columns have 200+ characters, so they become too wide. Ken wonders if there is a way to set a minimum (7) and maximum (50) column width for the AutoFit function.

This cannot be done natively within Excel as there is no built-in way to set the minimum or maximum. However, it is easy enough to do using a macro. Here's an example of one that will do the trick:

Sub SetColWidths()
    Dim c As Range
    Dim iMin As Integer
    Dim iMax As Integer

    iMin = 7
    iMax = 50
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    For Each c In Selection.Columns
        c.AutoFit
        If c.ColumnWidth < iMin Then c.ColumnWidth = iMin
        If c.ColumnWidth > iMax Then c.ColumnWidth = iMax
    Next c
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

In order to use the macro, simply select cells in the columns you want to affect (as Ken does), and then run the macro. It applies AutoFit to the columns and then steps through each one to make sure that nothing is narrow than 7 or wider than 50.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (13825) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365.

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. ...

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What is 2 + 2?

2021-02-20 10:30:33

Allen Cody

The above macro requires that columns be selected before execution. The "c.autofit" line can be removed entirely, as it is unnecessary. Change the line, "For Each c In Selection.Columns" to "For Each c In Cells.Columns" so that the subroutine will autofit all columns in the worksheet within the minimum and maximum parameters established - 7 and 50, respectively.

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