Making adjustments to the Excel worksheets might be something you find the trickiest part. Files with shorter datasets can easily be adjusted whereas when you are dealing with categorically lengthy data files, you will have to switch to other useful hacks. Manually expanding columns in Excel, especially when you have bigger worksheets could be something strenuous task.

You can simply adjust the height as well as the width of any cell. Data in a cell determines how much width and height you will need. If you change the width or height of a cell, it can typically change the entire row or column. For shorter datasets, manually expanding Columns and rows in Excel simply needs you to drag the right border of the column header to the left or right. Over the first row, you will see the column headers highlighted with letters starting from A.

In case, when you need to alter the height of a row, you will have to grab the lower border of the row header and pull it up or down. Unlike columns, row headers are highlighted with numbers that are visible from the left of column A.

With Autofit option in Excel, you can do it by default.

How to Expand Columns in Excel

So, basically how you can manage to expand columns in Excel. As you are already familiar with different functions used in Excel, you can resize the width or height of any cell according to your needs.

Automatic Resizing

In a new Excel sheet, each cell has the same size and that depends on what font you have chosen by default. Try setting the Calibri font and size 11 by default. You will see some space in the cell when you try entering 7 or fewer character values. On the other hand, if you put 8 or plus characters value in the cell, you will see the outpouring of characters into the next empty cell to its right side.

In case, when the right side cell has any value, the content may be cut off right at the start of the next cell. It must be shocking because your content is not visible. Don’t be surprised, your content is already there even when you cannot see it.

You can sort this out by double-clicking the right border of the column header and by default the cell will fit the content.

You can repeat it even for the rows. When you need to change the row height, simply double-click the lower border of the row’s header.

When trying to expand the size of multiple columns by default, you first have to highlight the columns by selecting their headers. Now, double click the right border of the header and it will adjust the size of each selected column to fit appropriately according to the content.

Expand Multiple Rows and Columns at Once

1. Choose the column or row in which you want to make changes. For the columns or rows, you need to left-click the header while pulling the mouse all over to choose multiple rows and columns.

2. In the header, now left-click the mouse button right among the selected columns or rows. Now, try dragging the mouse to the left and right for columns or up and down for the rows when resizing the selected columns at once.

All done!

Using the same steps, you can even expand the rows in Excel. Also, remember that you must not take it lightly because it significantly helps you in dealing with larger data sets.

Expand Multiple Columns at Once by Right-Clicking

Using the right-click, you can even expand multiple columns in Excel. For this, you have to:

1. Click on a columns heading, (which is typically a letter), to choose multiple columns while pulling the scroll to the last column you want to resize. Or else, you may even press and hold CTRL from the keyboard and click on the column letters that are needed to be selected. (e.g, A-G)
2. Later on, in the selected part you have to right-click anywhere and choose Column Width.

3. Now, you need to set the column width from the pop-up screen.

Eventually, your columns from A-G will now have the same width.

Expand Multiple Columns at Once Using the Format Option

With the help of the Format Option placed in the Ribbon, you can expand columns in Excel efficiently. For this, you have to follow the steps given below:

Click on the column heading to choose multiple columns and drag all over the last column you need to expand. Or else, you can press and hold CTRL from the keyboard and click on the column letter that is needed to select such as A-G.

Next, go to the Home tab given in the Ribbon and choose Format in the Cells group option. Click on the Column Width option.

Now, set the column width from the pop-up screen.

You will simply get the adjusted columns from A-G.

Choosing Own Dimensions

In case, when you need to set the size of rows or columns according to your choice, you may have to follow the steps given below:

Columns

• For columns, you have to right-click on the column header and the Settings menu will pop up.
• Choose the “Column Width” option.
• Put the value you want.

Rows

• For rows, you have to right-click on the column header and the Settings menu will pop up.
• Now, choose the “Row Height” option.
• Add the value, as you want.  

When you choose more than one column or row, you have to right-click the header to resize each one of them.

How Excel Treats Row or Column Sizes

Manual setting of rows or columns could be tiring that’s why when you need to make custom dimension settings, Excel tends to know about what the row or column size is. For this, you have to go through the default values.

Typically, a column has 8.43 points in width or 64 pixels. On the other hand, the height of a column is 15.00 points or 20 pixels. For confirmation, you can even check it by clicking on the right border of the column’s header. 

Also, note that a cell is not as bigger as it is wide because the width as already mentioned is 8.43 points whereas the height is 15 points. Apparently, these two values are not the same that’s why it is clear that both the width and height of a cell are different.  

Autofit is a Blessing 

While sorting out the Excel worksheets, Autofit is one of the main options used for this purpose. If you don’t get desired settings, you can simply apply to autofit to set the cell dimensions as per your needs.