How to Add Cell Borders in Excel

Cell borders are lines that separate and highlight the edges of cells in a worksheet. Cell borders can make your data easier to read and organize, as well as enhance the appearance of your spreadsheet. In this article, you will learn how to add, change, or remove cell borders in Excel using different methods.

Method 1: Using the Border Button on the Home Tab

One of the easiest ways to add cell borders in Excel is by using the border button on the home tab. Here are the steps to follow:

Select a cell or a range of cells where you want to add borders.
On the home tab, in the font group, click the arrow next to the border button. You will see a list of the most common border types, such as bottom border, top and bottom border, all borders, etc.
Click the border type that you want to apply, and it will be immediately added to the selected cells.

You can also access more border options by clicking on more borders at the bottom of the menu. This will open the format cells dialog box with the border tab selected. Here you can customize the line style, color, and position of your borders.

Method 2: Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

Another way to add cell borders in Excel is by using the format cells dialog box. This method gives you more control over the appearance and placement of your borders. Here are the steps to follow:

Select a cell or a range of cells where you want to add borders.
Right-click on the selection and choose format cells from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + 1 on your keyboard to open the format cells dialog box.
In the format cells dialog box, go to the border tab. Here you can choose from various line styles, colors, and presets for your borders.
To apply a border to a specific edge of your selection, click on one of the buttons in the border section. For example, if you want to add a left border, click on the left button. You can also click and drag on the diagram in the preview section to draw your borders manually.
To remove a border from an edge of your selection, click on none in the presets section. You can also click on an existing border in the preview section to erase it.
Click OK to apply your changes and close the dialog box.

Method 3: Using the Draw Borders Tool

The third way to add cell borders in Excel is by using the draw borders tool. This method allows you to draw your borders manually with your mouse cursor. Here are the steps to follow:

On the home tab, in the font group, click the arrow next to the border button.
In the drop-down menu, go to the draw borders section. Here you can choose from different line styles and colors for your borders.
To draw a border around a cell or a range of cells, click on draw border in the menu. Then move your mouse cursor over the edge of a cell or a range of cells and click and drag to draw a border.
To draw a border inside a cell or a range of cells, click on draw border grid in the menu. Then move your mouse cursor over a cell or a range of cells and click and drag to draw a grid of borders.
To erase an existing border, click on erase border in the menu. Then move your mouse cursor over a border that you want to remove and click and drag to erase it.

To exit the draw borders mode, press Esc on your keyboard or click on any other tool on the ribbon.

Conclusion

In this article, you have learned how to add cell borders in Excel using three different methods: using the border button on the home tab, using the format cells dialog box, and using the draw borders tool. Cell borders can help you improve the readability and appearance of your data in Excel.

For more information and examples on how to use cell borders in Excel, you can check out these resources:

How to Add Cell Borders in Excel