How to Apply Top and Bottom Border in Excel

To apply a top and bottom border in Excel, select your cells, go to the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button in the Font group, and choose “Top and Bottom Border.” For precise control over line style, color, and thickness, press Ctrl + 1 (Cmd + 1 on Mac) to open Format Cells and use the Border tab instead.

Excel is a powerful tool that allows users to present data in an organized and easy-to-read way. One feature that can enhance the presentation of data is the application of borders. Borders can be used for emphasis, clarity, or to separate data from other information on the sheet. In this tutorial, we will be focusing on applying top and bottom borders to cells in Excel. This tutorial is designed to provide a quick and direct answer for users looking to apply top and bottom borders in Excel.

Step 1: Select the Cells

The first step to apply top and bottom borders in Excel is to select the cells that you want to apply the border to. To do this, click on the cell that you want to start with and drag the cursor over the cells that you want to include. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts by pressing Ctrl + A to select all cells on the sheet or use Shift + Click to select a range of cells. Once the cells are selected, the border can be applied.

The Fastest Way: The Borders Dropdown

For most jobs you do not need a dialog box at all. With your cells selected, go to the Home tab and look in the Font group for the Borders button (the small grid icon). Click the arrow next to it to open the Borders dropdown, then pick the option you need:

• Top and Bottom Border — adds a single line above and below the selection. This is the dedicated “top and bottom border button” most people are looking for.
• Top and Double Bottom Border — a single line on top and a double line on the bottom, the classic look for a totals row.
• Top and Thick Bottom Border — a thin line on top and a heavier line on the bottom.

The exact phrase shown in the menu may vary slightly between Excel versions, but the icons are in the same order, so you can match the preview to what you want. Once you pick a style, Excel remembers it: clicking the main Borders button (not the arrow) re-applies that last-used border to any new selection. For a deeper tour of every option in this menu, see our guide to adding borders in Excel.

Step 2: Open the Format Cells Menu

After selecting the cells, click on the Home tab on the ribbon. Next, locate the ‘Font’ group and click on the ‘Border’ drop-down arrow. A menu will appear with various border styles and options to modify them. Select ‘More Borders’ at the bottom of the menu. (You can also press Ctrl + 1, or Cmd + 1 on a Mac, to jump straight to the Format Cells dialog and click the Border tab.)

Step 3: Apply the Borders

In the Format Cells dialog box, navigate to the ‘Border’ tab. In the ‘Presets’ section, select ‘Outline’ and then click on the ‘Box’ options under ‘Border’ to apply borders to the cells’ top and bottom. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Step 4: Modify the Border Style

If desired, the border style can be modified to suit specific needs. The ‘Style’ group in the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box allows for customization of the line style, color, and thickness. Select the preferred options and click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

The “Top and Double Bottom” Border for Totals

In financial and accounting layouts, a totals row is traditionally marked with a single line above the number and a double line below it. Excel builds this in two places. The quickest route is the Borders dropdown described above: select your total cell and choose Top and Double Bottom Border. For a more polished result, Excel’s Accounting cell styles include a “Total” style that combines the double underline with the right number formatting in one click — see how to apply the total cell style. Either way, the double bottom border signals “this is the final figure” to anyone reading your sheet.

Windows vs. Mac

The steps are nearly identical across platforms. The only differences worth noting: the keyboard shortcut for Format Cells is Ctrl + 1 on Windows and Cmd + 1 on Mac, and on the Mac ribbon the Borders button sits in the same Font group but the dropdown labels can be marginally shorter. The Borders dropdown, the Format Cells Border tab, and the Accounting total styles all exist in both Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac, so any method on this page works on either system.

Additional Tips

1. Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Instead of clicking through the ribbon, you can use keyboard shortcuts for most of the format options. For example, to open the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box, press Ctrl + 1.

2. Applying Borders to Tables

To apply borders to tables, select the cells, then go to the ‘Insert’ tab and use the ‘Table’ button. The resulting table will have borders by default.

3. Using Conditional Formatting

If there is a need to highlight specific types of data or cells, use conditional formatting. It allows for automatic border application based on specific criteria.

Applying Border to Multiple Rows or Columns

If you want to apply top and bottom borders to multiple rows or columns, hold down the Shift key while selecting the rows or columns. Then, follow the same steps to apply the borders that were discussed earlier. This is an easy way to apply the same border to multiple rows/columns without having to perform the same steps repeatedly.

Removing a Border

If you no longer need a border that you applied, you can remove it easily. The fastest way is the Borders dropdown: select the cells, click the arrow next to the Borders button in the Font group, and choose No Border. Alternatively, open the ‘Format Cells’ menu, navigate to the ‘Border’ tab, and in the ‘Presets’ section select ‘No Border’ to clear it entirely — or click a specific edge under ‘Border’ to remove just that line. For more on clearing different border types, see our full guide to removing borders in Excel. Note that removing a border does not turn off the faint gridlines Excel shows on screen — those are a separate display setting.

In summary, knowing how to apply top and bottom borders in Excel can help make the data you present look neat and organized. As discussed in this tutorial, you can apply this border to any cell, row, or column required in just a few easy steps. With a little bit of creativity, you can take the border style and color options and use them to create a visually appealing worksheet that is easy to read and understand!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers related to applying top and bottom borders in Excel:

Where is the top and bottom border button in Excel?

It lives inside the Borders dropdown. On the Home tab, find the Borders button in the Font group and click the small arrow beside it. “Top and Bottom Border” is one of the options in the list, alongside variations like “Top and Double Bottom Border” and “Top and Thick Bottom Border.”

1. Can I apply top and bottom borders to non-adjacent cells?

Yes, just hold down the Ctrl key while selecting the cells that you want to apply the border to. It will allow the selection of non-adjacent cells or ranges.

2. Can I apply both thick and thin borders to a cell?

Yes, in the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box, you can customize the border style, line type, thickness, and color according to your preference. To do so, select the cell, then navigate to the ‘Border’ tab, and choose the desired options, thickness, and line style under the ‘Style’ and ‘Color’ groups. If you want a free-form line that is not tied to a cell edge, you can also draw a line in Excel using the Draw Border tool at the bottom of the Borders dropdown.

3. I want to apply borders every other row. Is this possible?

Yes, you can use Excel’s conditional formatting feature to apply borders every other row. Select the cells you want to apply formatting to, navigate to the ‘Home’ tab, and choose “New Rule” under the conditional formatting menu. Choose ‘Use a formula to determine which cells to format’ and enter the formula in the appropriate field. Next, select the format from the ‘Format’ button and click ‘OK’ to apply the formatting.

4. Can I apply different borders to different parts of the same cell?

Yes, in ‘Format Cells,’ you can select a section of the cell, and apply the desired border style to it. To do this, select the cell and click on the ‘Home’ tab. Then, select ‘Format Cells’ and go to the ‘Border’ tab. Under the ‘Border’ section, choose the section that you want to apply the border to.

5. Is there any way to copy and paste borders from one cell to another?

Yes, select the cell that has the border you want to copy, right-click and choose ‘Format Cells.’ In the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box, navigate to the ‘Border’ tab and choose the border options that you want to copy. Next, click on the ‘OK’ button to save the changes. Now select the cell or cells that you want to apply the border to and press Ctrl + V to paste the formatting.

Should I bold the totals row along with the double border?

It is a common convention. A top-and-double-bottom border plus bold text makes a totals row instantly readable. You can bold the text and adjust the typeface in the same Font group — see how to change the font in Excel — or apply the Accounting total cell style, which handles the border, bolding, and number format together.