Ever tried printing an Excel sheet only to realize the gridlines disappeared? Frustrating, right? You’re not alone! Many Excel 2013 users face this issue when they want their printed spreadsheet to look just like it does on-screen. Gridlines help make your data clear and easy to read, but by default, Excel doesn’t always print them.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to print gridlines in Excel 2013—step-by-step. We’ll also explore why gridlines don’t show up sometimes, how to customize them, and what to do if they still won’t print. Ready? Let’s dive in!
What Are Gridlines in Excel 2013?
Gridlines are the faint, light-gray lines that separate cells on your worksheet. They help you visually distinguish between rows and columns, making your data more organized and readable.
When you print your spreadsheet, though, Excel doesn’t automatically include these lines. You have to enable them manually before printing.
Why Print Gridlines in Excel?
Printing gridlines isn’t just for aesthetics—it actually makes your printed data much easier to understand. Here’s why you might want to enable them:
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✅ Improved readability: Data is easier to follow from left to right.
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✅ Professional look: Gridlines make your spreadsheet appear well-structured.
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✅ Better alignment: Helps ensure numbers and text line up correctly.
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✅ Error reduction: Prevents confusion when reading large tables.
In short, gridlines turn a plain list of numbers into a clean, professional report.
How to Print Gridlines in Excel 2013 (Step-by-Step)
Let’s break it down into easy steps so you can print your spreadsheet with visible gridlines.
Step 1: Open Your Excel File
First, open the workbook that contains the data you want to print. Make sure you’re on the correct worksheet tab.
Step 2: Go to the Page Layout Tab
At the top of the Excel window, click the Page Layout tab. This tab controls how your sheet looks on paper.
Step 3: Find the Gridlines Section
In the Sheet Options group (on the left side), you’ll see two checkboxes under Gridlines:
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View
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Print
The “View” box controls gridlines on your screen. The “Print” box controls whether gridlines appear on paper.
Step 4: Check the Print Gridlines Box
Tick the Print checkbox under the Gridlines section.
Now, Excel knows you want gridlines to appear when you print the document.
Step 5: Preview Before Printing
Before hitting “Print,” it’s always smart to check the print preview.
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Go to File → Print or press Ctrl + P.
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Look at the preview on the right side of the screen.
If you see gridlines, you’re good to go!
Step 6: Adjust Page Settings (Optional)
If gridlines appear too faint or misaligned, adjust the page settings:
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Orientation: Choose Portrait or Landscape depending on your data.
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Scaling: Set to Fit Sheet on One Page to keep everything neat.
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Margins: Select Narrow or Custom Margins if needed.
These small tweaks can make your printed sheet look professional.
Alternative Method: Use Borders Instead of Gridlines
Sometimes gridlines don’t print clearly, especially on older printers. If that happens, use borders instead.
Step 1: Select Your Data
Highlight the cells you want to outline.
Step 2: Add Borders
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Go to the Home tab.
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Click the Borders icon (it looks like a small square).
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Choose All Borders from the dropdown.
Borders are darker and more visible than gridlines, ensuring your printed data looks crisp.
How to Customize Gridlines in Excel 2013
Excel 2013 doesn’t let you change the gridline color directly for printing—but you can tweak how they appear on screen.
Changing Gridline Color (For Viewing)
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Go to File → Options → Advanced.
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Scroll down to the Display Options for This Worksheet section.
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Look for Gridline Color and choose your desired color.
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Click OK to apply changes.
While this doesn’t affect printing, it helps with visibility while working.
How to Fix Gridlines Not Printing in Excel 2013
If you’ve followed all steps and gridlines still won’t print, here are a few troubleshooting tips.
1. Check the Print Area
Make sure your print area is correctly set. If part of your data falls outside the defined print area, gridlines won’t appear there.
Go to Page Layout → Print Area → Set Print Area.
2. Confirm the Cell Background Color
If cells have a white fill color (not “No Fill”), gridlines won’t print.
To fix:
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Select all cells.
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Go to Home → Fill Color → No Fill.
3. Reset Page Layout
Sometimes custom page layouts interfere with gridlines. Try resetting by choosing Page Layout → Margins → Normal.
4. Update Printer Drivers
Outdated printer drivers can sometimes skip gridlines. Updating your printer driver might help resolve this issue.
5. Print as PDF First
Before printing physically, choose Save as PDF. Check if the gridlines appear there. If yes, your Excel settings are fine—the issue lies with your printer setup.
Printing Gridlines for Specific Sections Only
You might not always want gridlines for the entire sheet. Here’s how to print gridlines for selected areas.
Step 1: Select Your Range
Highlight only the part of your sheet you want to print.
Step 2: Set Print Area
Go to Page Layout → Print Area → Set Print Area.
Step 3: Enable Print Gridlines
Now check the Print option under Gridlines again.
When you print, only that selected area will have gridlines.
How to Print Gridlines in Color
Excel 2013 itself doesn’t print colored gridlines—they’ll appear in black or gray. But you can simulate colored gridlines by using borders:
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Select your data.
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Click Home → Borders → More Borders.
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Pick a color from the palette.
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Click OK and print.
Voilà! You now have colorful “gridlines” on your printed sheet.
Tips for a Clean, Professional Printout
Here are a few quick tips to make your Excel printouts look flawless:
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🧾 Use page breaks to control where data ends on each page.
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📏 Adjust column widths so data doesn’t get cut off.
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🖨️ Use “Fit All Columns on One Page” for compact reports.
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✨ Preview before printing—always!
Difference Between Gridlines and Cell Borders
| Feature | Gridlines | Borders |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Light gray (default) | Customizable |
| Printing | Optional | Always prints |
| Customization | Limited | Fully customizable |
| Purpose | Visual guide | Data separation |
So, if you need darker lines or full control, borders are your best friend!
When You Shouldn’t Print Gridlines
While gridlines make spreadsheets easier to read, sometimes you should skip them:
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When creating formal reports or invoices (borders look cleaner).
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When using charts or images—gridlines can clutter the layout.
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When using colored backgrounds—they might not show clearly.
Conclusion
Printing gridlines in Excel 2013 isn’t complicated—it’s just hidden behind a small checkbox! By enabling gridlines from the Page Layout tab, you can make your printed spreadsheets look neat, readable, and professional.
And if gridlines still refuse to print, remember: you can always use cell borders as a reliable backup.
With these tips, you’ll never have to deal with plain, confusing spreadsheets again!
FAQs
1. Why don’t my gridlines print even after enabling them?
Check if your cells have a white background fill. Use “No Fill” to make gridlines visible.
2. Can I change the gridline color when printing?
Not directly. Excel 2013 prints gridlines in black or gray. Use borders for colored lines.
3. How do I print only part of my worksheet with gridlines?
Set a print area under Page Layout → Print Area → Set Print Area, then enable “Print Gridlines.”
4. Do gridlines print in all versions of Excel the same way?
The process is similar, but the menu layout varies slightly between Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, and newer versions.
5. Are borders better than gridlines for printing?
Yes—borders are bolder, customizable, and always print, making them ideal for professional documents.