How to Get Rid of Lines in Excel

For anyone who uses Microsoft Excel, it’s common to come across unwanted lines that can be frustrating to remove. These lines can appear in different ways, such as gridlines, borders, or even as dividing lines between columns and rows. Whether you’re working on a spreadsheet for a business report or a personal budget, it’s important to know how to remove lines in Excel to keep your data neat and organized. Fortunately, Microsoft Excel offers several ways to remove lines, and with a few simple steps, you can get rid of them quickly and efficiently.

Introduction

Microsoft Excel is an exceptional tool to create spreadsheets, charts, and tables. But what if your Excel sheet has lines that make it look cluttered and unprofessional? In this post, we’ll be detailing step-by-step instructions on how to get rid of lines in Excel for a better, cleaner looking sheet that you can be proud of.

How to remove gridlines in Excel

Gridlines are horizontal and vertical lines that are visible on your Excel sheet by default. Although they can be helpful, they can also obscure the actual data that you need to focus on. To remove gridlines in Excel, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Go to the ‘View’ tab

At the top of your Excel window, find the ‘View’ tab and click it. This will present you with different options for customizing your Excel sheet.

Step 2: Disable ‘Gridlines’

In the ‘View’ tab, you’ll find a checkbox labeled ‘Gridlines.’ Simply uncheck it, and the gridlines will disappear from your Excel sheet. If you ever want to turn them back on, just check the box again.

How to remove borders in Excel

Borders are lines that surround cells, tables, or charts in an Excel sheet. They’re used to highlight specific data, but if you have too many borders, it can make your sheet look cluttered. Here’s how you can remove them:

Step 1: Select cells with borders

The first thing you need to do is select the cells with borders. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the cells or holding down the ‘Ctrl’ key and clicking on each cell.

Step 2: Go to the ‘Home’ tab

Find the ‘Home’ tab on the top of your Excel window and click on it to reveal the different options available to you.

Step 3: Remove borders

In the ‘Font’ section of the ‘Home’ tab, you’ll find several buttons for different formatting options. Click on the ‘Borders’ button and select ‘No Border’ to remove the borders from your selected cells.

How to remove dividing lines in Excel

Dividing lines separate columns and rows in Excel, which can help with the visual organization of your data. However, if you don’t need them, it’s best to remove them for a cleaner look. Here’s how:

Step 1: Select the range of cells

Click and drag your mouse to select the range of cells where you want to remove the dividing lines.

Step 2: Find ‘Format Cells’

Right-click on the selected cells to bring up a menu. From the menu, select ‘Format Cells.’

Step 3: Remove the dividing lines

In the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box, select the ‘Border’ tab. From there, select the ‘None’ option, which will remove all the dividing lines from your selected cells. Click ‘OK’ to save your changes.

You should now have a better understanding of how to remove different types of lines in Excel. With these simple steps, you can keep your Excel sheet neat, organized, and professional-looking. Remember, don’t overuse lines and borders, and only use them when necessary to make the data more readable. Happy Excel-ing!

Additional Tips

Now that you know how to remove lines in Excel, here are some additional tips to help you with formatting and organization of your spreadsheet:

1. Use color to highlight data instead of borders

You don’t always have to use borders to draw attention to specific data. Consider using color instead. It can be more visually appealing and easier to read. Use different colors to highlight important data or separate different sections of your sheet.

2. Use conditional formatting for easy data analysis

Conditional formatting is an Excel feature that applies formatting, such as colors and icons, to your data based on specific rules that you set up. For example, you can use conditional formatting to highlight cells that contain values above a certain threshold or cells that contain specific text. This can make it easier to analyze your data at a glance.

3. Use consistent formatting throughout your sheet

Consistency is key when it comes to formatting in Excel. Make sure you use the same font, font size, and text alignment throughout your sheet. This will give your Excel sheet a more professional look and make it easier to read and understand.

4. Keep your sheet organized with tables

Tables in Excel provide a quick and easy way to organize your data. They automatically format your data and allow you to sort, filter, and analyze your data with ease. Click on a cell within your range of data and press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to convert it into a table.

Knowing how to remove lines in Excel is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to formatting and organizing your spreadsheet. With some basic formatting techniques, such as using color, conditional formatting, and tables, you can create an organized and professional-looking Excel sheet that will make your data more readable, understandable, and visually appealing.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about removing lines in Excel:

Q: Can I remove the lines temporarily without affecting the sheet’s formatting?

A: Yes. You can turn off lines in Excel with a simple keystroke: Alt + W + VG. Pressing this combination will toggle the gridlines on and off, without changing the formatting of your sheet.

Q: Can I remove only specific lines and not all of them?

A: Yes. To remove specific lines, such as gridlines or cell borders, select the cells that have the line you want to remove. Then, look for the Borders button, usually found in the Home tab of the Excel ribbon. Click the dropdown arrow and select the line type you want to remove from your selection.

Q: How do I change the line color?

A: Select the data that contains the lines you want to change, then click on the ‘Format cell borders’ button, usually found in the Home tab of the Excel ribbon. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the color you want your borders to be under the ‘Color’ dropdown menu, and click ‘OK’ to save your changes.

Q: Can I remove lines on a printed copy of the sheet?

A: Yes. Under the ‘Page Layout’ tab, found in the top menu, click on ‘Sheet Options’ and uncheck the box next to ‘Gridlines’ before printing. This will remove the lines only for the printed version of the sheet.

Q: Do lines affect the performance of an Excel sheet?

A: Not usually. Although lines can sometimes cause a slowdown when printing or manipulating a large amount of data, this issue is uncommon, and lines typically don’t impact the performance of an Excel sheet.