How to Set Print Area in Excel

If you are among the group of people who always prints their Excel sheets, then knowing how to set the print area will be a lifesaver for you. Setting print area in Excel allows you to print only the part of the sheet that you need instead of printing the whole sheet, which can be time-consuming. In this blog post, we will discuss how to set print area in Excel, step by step with illustrations.

What is Print Area in Excel?

The print area is the selection of cells that you want to print on your worksheet. By setting the print area, you can ensure that only the selected content appears on paper – reducing the use of paper, ink, and printing time.

How to Set Print Area in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting print areas in excel is a simple and straightforward process. Follow these steps to learn how to set print areas in excel:

Step 1: Select the Area You Want to Print

Start by selecting the cells on the worksheet that you want to print.

Step 2: Go to the Page Layout Tab

Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Print Area’ Button

Within the Page Layout tab, locate the ‘Print Area’ button in the page setup group.

Step 4: Select ‘Set Print Area’

Click on the ‘Set Print Area’ option to set the selected area as the print area.

Step 5: Preview Before Printing

You can preview what will be printed by going to the ‘Print Preview’ tab on the ribbon. This will help you ensure that you have selected the right area before you print.

How to Clear a Print Area in Excel

If you need to clear the print area, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to the ‘Page Layout’ Tab

Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Print Area’ Button

Within the Page Layout tab, locate the ‘Print Area’ button in the page setup group.

Step 3: Select ‘Clear Print Area’

Finally, click on the ‘Clear Print Area’ option to clear the previously set print area.

Setting print areas and clearing them is an effortless process in Excel. By utilizing this feature, you can save time, ink, and paper by only printing the necessary content.

How to Add Multiple Print Areas in Excel

Sometimes you may prefer to print different areas of your worksheet on separate sheets. In this case, you can set multiple print areas in Excel. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Select the First Area You Want to Print

Select the area of the worksheet that you want to print first.

Step 2: Go to the Page Layout Tab

Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Print Area’ Button

Click on the ‘Print Area’ button in the page setup group within the Page Layout tab.

Step 4: Select ‘Add to Print Area’

Click on the ‘Add to Print Area’ option. You can repeat this step multiple times to add more areas to be printed.

Step 5: Preview and Print

Preview the print areas on the ‘Print Preview’ tab of the ribbon to ensure all necessary areas have been selected. Then print your worksheet(s).

Using Print Titles in Excel

When printing a large worksheet, you may want to ensure that column headings and row labels do not get lost. Print Titles is a feature in Excel that allows you to print the column headings on every page of the worksheet. Here is how to set them:

Step 1: Go to the Page Layout Tab

Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Select ‘Print Titles’

In the ‘Page Setup’ group, select the ‘Print Titles’ button.

Step 3: Specify Rows and Columns to Surround the Page Content

In the ‘Page Setup’ dialog box, click the ‘Rows to repeat at top’ or ‘Columns to repeat at left’ box and then select the rows or columns you want in the worksheet to surround the page content.

Step 4: Click ‘OK’

The selected rows or columns will be indicated with a thin, dotted line and Excel will add them to each printed page automatically. Click ‘OK’ to close the ‘Page Setup’ dialog box.

Setting print areas and print titles can make printing Excel worksheets much easier and less time-consuming. By following the above steps, you can set your print areas, clear them, and add them multiple times with ease. Additionally, never miss critical column and row headings again with the Print Titles feature.

FAQs about Setting Print Area in Excel

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about setting print areas in Excel:

1. Can I set a print area for multiple worksheets at once?

Yes, you can select multiple worksheets by clicking on the first worksheet’s tab, holding down the ‘Shift’ key, and clicking the last worksheet you want to select. Then, set your print area as usual.

2. How do I change the print area once it is already set?

You can change the print area by selecting the new range you would like to be the print area. Then, click on the ‘Print Area’ button and select ‘Set Print Area’.

3. Can I set different print areas for different page orientations?

Yes, you can change the print areas on a per-page basis. Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab, then click on the ‘Print Area’ button. Select ‘Set Print Area’ or ‘Clear Print Area’ for each page orientation as needed.

4. Is it possible to print a single cell instead of an area?

Yes, you can print a single cell by selecting it and setting it as your print area. You can also select multiple non-adjacent cells by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ key while selecting them.

5. How do I set the print area for a portion of a worksheet that is not contiguous?

You can select non-contiguous cell ranges by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ key while selecting them. Then, set your print area as usual by selecting the ‘Print Area’ button and selecting ‘Set Print Area’.