How to Apply Thick Outside Borders in Excel

Welcome to this tutorial on applying thick outside borders in Microsoft Excel. This is a quick and direct guide for those looking to add a thicker border around the outside of their Excel worksheet. Applying borders can enhance the visual appeal of your Excel sheet and make it easier to read and understand. In this post, we will walk you through the simple steps to add a thick outside border to your Excel worksheet. So, whether you are an Excel beginner or a seasoned pro, this tutorial is sure to be helpful in achieving a professional-looking and organized worksheet.

What are Outside Borders

Before we start, it’s important to clarify what we mean by outside borders in Excel. Outside borders are the lines that we place around the outside of our worksheet. By default, Excel places a thin standard line around every cell in our worksheet to divide it into manageable sections. With outside borders, we can emphasize the boundaries between our data and the margin to achieve a more polished look.

How to Apply Thick Outside Borders to an Excel Worksheet

Step 1: Select Cells

To add thick outside borders in Excel, the first step is to select the cells for which we want to add this feature. This can be done by clicking and dragging our mouse over the desired cells, or by pressing Ctrl+A to select the entire worksheet.

Step 2: Find the Border Icon

The next step is to locate the Border icon on the Home tab in the Ribbon menu. This icon resembles a square with borders on each side.

Step 3: Choose the Outside Border Option

Once we have found this icon, we need to click on it and select the “Outside Border” option to apply the standard width line around the selected cells. However, we want a thicker border, so we will need to proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Use the Drop-Down Menu to Change Border Thickness

Using the same menu as before, click on the arrow next to the Borders icon to expand it. From there, choose the “More Borders” option to reveal a formatting menu. On this menu, we can select the type of border we want to use, the color of the border, and the thickness. To achieve a thick outside border, select the thickest border option available.

Step 5: Apply the Border

After we have selected the desired thickness, we should see a preview of the border we have selected. To apply it, click the OK button. The thick border will now be added to the outside of our selected cells.

Adding borders to an Excel worksheet can help define the space and make the whole document look more professional. Applying a thick outside border is easy and can help make our sheet significantly more readable. By following the five simple steps outlined in this post, we can create a clear and structured worksheet that is easy to read and understand.

Benefits of Using Outside Borders in Excel

Using borders in Excel can significantly enhance the readability and organization of the data. We can use them to visually separate or group related information together. Highlighting important sections or rows can also be useful for quickly identifying key data points or differentiating between varying data types. Overall, the use of borders can make our Excel worksheet a more effective and visually appealing tool.

Customizing Border Styles

Adding outside borders is just one of many customization options available in Excel. Under the “More Borders” option mentioned earlier, users can also select from other border types, such as inside and outside borders, top and bottom borders only, and diagonal borders. Additionally, we can adjust the color and line style, create custom border styles, and apply borders to specific cells or ranges of cells.

Removing Borders in Excel

If we decide to remove borders from our Excel worksheet, we can also do this in a few simple steps. First, we select the cells from which we wants to remove the borders. Then, we go to the Borders menu and choose “No Border.” This will remove any existing border from the selected cells.

In conclusion, adding thick outside borders to an Excel worksheet can make it more visually appealing and easier to read, while also highlighting important data points and separating related information. By following the five simple steps outlined in this post, we can improve the overall organization and structure of our worksheet. Additionally, with a little more customization, we can create unique and professional-looking border styles to suit our specific needs.

FAQs on Applying Thick Outside Borders in Excel

Here are some common questions that Excel users may have when applying borders to their worksheets:

How do I change the border color in Excel?

To change the border color, go to the “More Borders” option and select one of the predefined colors or choose “More Colors” for a custom color. After selecting the color, click “OK.” The border will then update to the selected color.

Can I add borders to a specific range of cells in Excel?

Yes, you can add borders to specific cell ranges by selecting those cells before going to the “More Borders” option. The selected borders will only be applied to the cells within the selected range.

How do I remove specific borders in Excel?

To remove specific borders in Excel, go to the “More Borders” option and select the border style you would like to remove. Then, click on the border lines that you want to remove and select “no border”.

Can I copy and paste borders in Excel?

Yes, you can copy and paste borders in Excel. To do this, select the cell with the border you want to copy, click “Copy” on the “Home” tab, select the cell or range of cells where you want to paste the border, then click “Paste.” The copied border will be applied to the new cells.

How can I make sure all my borders line up properly?

You can make sure all of your borders line up by selecting the cells with the borders you want to line up, and then choosing “Format Cells.” Under the “Alignment” tab, under the “Text Control” section, select “Wrap Text.” This will ensure that all of your data is set to wrap, and help prevent borders from starting or ending in awkward places.