Adding a picture to the header in Excel might sound like a small detail—but it can make a big difference. Whether you’re creating branded invoices, financial reports, or presentation-ready spreadsheets, a well-placed company logo or image in the header gives your document a professional touch.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to add a picture to the header in Excel for Office 365, step by step. You’ll learn not only how to insert images but also how to resize, format, and position them correctly for polished, print-ready spreadsheets.
🧭 What Is a Header in Excel?
Before we begin, let’s quickly understand what a header is in Excel.
In Microsoft Excel, a header is the section at the top of each printed page. It appears when you print your worksheet or view it in Page Layout mode. Headers can contain text, page numbers, dates, or even images—like your business logo.
Just like a footer (which appears at the bottom), headers are used to:
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Add professional branding
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Display document information
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Insert consistent page elements (like “Confidential” or page numbers)
💡 Why Add a Picture to the Header in Excel?
There are many reasons you might want to insert an image into your Excel header. Here are the most common use cases:
| Purpose | Description |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Branding | Add your company logo to official documents, invoices, or reports. |
| 📄 Professionalism | Give your spreadsheets a clean, corporate appearance. |
| 🔒 Identification | Distinguish official documents from drafts or templates. |
| 📊 Consistency | Maintain a unified look across multiple reports or sheets. |
Adding an image to your Excel header helps your document stand out and makes it look ready for clients, partners, or management presentations.
⚙️ Methods to Add a Picture to the Header in Excel for Office 365
There are two primary ways to add a picture to your Excel header:
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Using Page Layout View (Visual method)
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Using the Insert Tab (Ribbon method)
We’ll cover both methods step-by-step.
🪜 Method 1: Add a Picture to Header Using Page Layout View
This is the easiest and most visual way to insert a picture into your header.
Step 1: Open Your Excel Workbook
Open the Excel workbook where you want to add a picture to the header.
If you’re starting from scratch, open a new worksheet and enter your data.
Step 2: Switch to Page Layout View
To view the header area:
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Go to the View tab on the ribbon.
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Under the Workbook Views group, click Page Layout.
Your worksheet will now display page breaks, margins, and the header/footer area at the top and bottom of each page.
Step 3: Click in the Header Area
You’ll see three header sections:
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Left section
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Center section
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Right section
Click inside the area where you want your image to appear (most users place their logo in the left or center section).
Step 4: Insert the Picture
Once you click in the header, the Header & Footer Tools tab appears automatically.
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Click Picture in the Header & Footer Elements group.
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Choose the image location:
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From a File (upload from your computer)
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Bing Image Search (online search)
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OneDrive (cloud storage)
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Step 5: Select and Insert Your Image
Browse for your image (e.g., a company logo) and click Insert.
Excel will show the text code &[Picture] in your selected header area.
Don’t worry—you’ll see the actual image once you exit the header editor.
Step 6: Exit Header View
Click anywhere in the worksheet outside the header area or press the Esc key.
Your image will now appear in the header section when viewed in:
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Page Layout view
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Print Preview
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Printed version
✅ Tip: You can switch back to Normal view to continue editing your spreadsheet.
🧮 Method 2: Add a Picture to Header Using the Insert Tab
If you prefer working with the Ribbon commands, follow this alternate method.
Step 1: Go to Insert → Text → Header & Footer
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Open your Excel file.
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Click the Insert tab on the ribbon.
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In the Text group, click Header & Footer.
This action switches your worksheet to Page Layout view automatically.
Step 2: Choose a Header Section
Click inside either:
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Left section
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Center section
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Right section
This determines where your image will appear on the page.
Step 3: Insert the Picture
Under Header & Footer Tools → Design tab, click Picture.
Select the image source:
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From a file
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From OneDrive
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From Bing Image Search
After selection, you’ll see &[Picture] appear in the header box.
Step 4: Exit the Header
Click anywhere below the header area to exit editing mode.
You’ll now see your image displayed in the header area when you scroll or print.
🖼️ How to Resize and Format Your Header Picture in Excel
Once the image is inserted, you may find it too large or misplaced. Here’s how to adjust it.
Step 1: Return to the Header Area
Double-click inside the header section containing your image.
Step 2: Click the “Format Picture” Option
Under Header & Footer Tools → Design, click Format Picture.
A dialog box opens with formatting options.
Step 3: Adjust Picture Settings
Use the following tabs:
| Tab | Function |
|---|---|
| Size | Resize the image by adjusting height and width manually. |
| Picture | Change brightness, contrast, and crop the image if needed. |
| Alt Text | Add a description for accessibility or documentation. |
Step 4: Preview Your Changes
Exit the header editor and view your image in Page Layout view to confirm its positioning.
✅ Pro Tip: Keep logos small and centered for a balanced, professional look.
🎨 Tips for Designing a Professional Header Image
If you’re adding a logo or design element to your header, follow these tips:
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Use transparent PNG logos to blend with your background.
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Maintain a resolution of 150–300 DPI for print quality.
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Avoid large images—they can misalign or overlap your data.
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Ensure consistent margins so your header looks symmetrical.
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Preview using File → Print Preview before finalizing.
📄 How to Add Both Image and Text in the Header
You can combine text and images for a more dynamic header (for example, a logo plus company name).
Steps:
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Go to Insert → Header & Footer.
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Click inside the desired header section.
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Type your text first (e.g., Company XYZ).
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Press the spacebar a few times or use a new section (left/right).
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Click Picture and insert your logo.
Excel will combine both elements automatically in print view.
🔄 How to Replace or Remove a Header Picture
Need to update or delete your image? Here’s how:
To Replace:
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Double-click the header area.
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Click Picture → Change Picture.
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Select a new file from your computer or OneDrive.
To Remove:
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Double-click the header.
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Delete the
&[Picture]code manually. -
Press Enter or click outside the header area.
Your header image will be removed.
🧾 How to View or Print the Header Image
Header images only appear in certain Excel views.
To preview:
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Go to File → Print or press Ctrl + P.
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Review the Print Preview window.
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You’ll see the header image displayed on each printed page.
To make further changes, click Back and adjust in Page Layout view.
🧩 How to Add Different Header Pictures on Each Sheet
If your workbook contains multiple sheets, you can add unique images for each.
Steps:
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Click on the first sheet tab.
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Add a picture to its header following the steps above.
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Repeat for each sheet individually.
Excel doesn’t copy headers automatically between sheets—so this method gives you flexibility for custom designs.
⚡ Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some common problems users face when adding pictures to Excel headers—and how to fix them.
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Picture doesn’t appear | Viewing in Normal view | Switch to Page Layout or Print Preview |
| Image too big | Default scaling | Resize using Format Picture settings |
| Header overlaps data | Margins too small | Increase Top margin in Page Setup |
| Blurry image | Low-resolution picture | Use a higher-quality image (150–300 DPI) |
| Wrong alignment | Inserted in wrong section | Reinsert image in Left, Center, or Right section correctly |
🧠 Pro Tips for Advanced Users
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Use custom macros or VBA to insert images automatically across multiple sheets.
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Save your branded header as a template (.xltx) for reuse.
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Combine headers and footers with page numbers or confidential stamps for official reports.
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Lock header editing using Protect Sheet options to prevent changes.
🧮 Example: Adding a Company Logo for Reports
Let’s take a practical example.
Scenario:
You’re preparing a monthly financial report and want to include your company’s logo in the header.
Solution:
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Switch to Page Layout view.
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Click the center header section.
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Select Insert Picture → From File and upload your logo.
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Format it to about 1 inch in height using “Format Picture.”
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Exit the header.
Now, your printed reports will carry your company logo on every page—automatically.
🔒 How to Lock Header After Inserting Picture
To prevent accidental changes:
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Go to the Review tab.
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Click Protect Sheet.
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Check “Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells.”
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Optionally set a password.
Now, no one can edit or remove your header image without unprotecting the sheet.
🧾 Comparison: Excel Header vs Word Header
| Feature | Excel Header | Word Header |
|---|---|---|
| Layout Control | Limited | Highly customizable |
| Image Insertion | Supported | Fully supported |
| Use Case | Reports, tables, data sheets | Documents, letters |
| Preview | Page Layout View | Print Layout View |
| Automation | Macros possible | Mail merge supported |
While Word headers offer more design freedom, Excel headers are ideal for structured, data-driven documents.
🧭 Key Formatting Tips
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Keep logos small and clear—avoid clutter.
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Use high-contrast images that print well in black and white.
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Test print before distributing to ensure correct alignment.
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If sharing electronically, export as PDF to preserve formatting.
🏁 Conclusion
Adding a picture to the header in Excel for Office 365 is a simple yet powerful way to brand your spreadsheets. With just a few clicks, you can transform plain data into professional-looking reports complete with your company’s logo or any image of your choice.
To recap:
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Go to Insert → Header & Footer or switch to Page Layout View
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Choose Picture → From File / OneDrive / Bing
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Adjust size and alignment via “Format Picture”
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Preview in Print Preview before saving or printing
Once you’ve set it up, Excel will automatically print your header image on every page—making your documents look consistent, professional, and ready to impress.
💡 Key Takeaways
| 🗝️ | Tip |
|---|---|
| ✅ | Use Page Layout View to add and preview header images. |
| 🧮 | Insert your logo using Header & Footer Tools → Picture. |
| 🖼️ | Resize using the Format Picture option. |
| 🔄 | You can replace or delete images easily from the header. |
| 🧠 | Save templates with pre-set headers for future reports. |
❓ FAQs About Adding a Picture to the Header in Excel
1. Why can’t I see my header image in Excel?
Header images only appear in Page Layout view or Print Preview, not in Normal view.
2. Can I add different pictures for left, center, and right headers?
Yes, you can insert separate images into each section individually.
3. Can I move my header image lower or higher?
Indirectly—adjust the top margin in Page Setup to reposition your header image vertically.
4. Will the header image print on every page?
Yes, Excel automatically includes headers (and their images) on all printed pages of that sheet.
5. Can I add a footer picture the same way?
Absolutely. Follow the same steps, but click the Footer area instead of the Header.