5 Ways to Make Excel Cells Perfect Squares

Welcome to a comprehensive guide on creating perfect squares in Excel. Whether you're an Excel novice or an experienced user, mastering cell dimensions can significantly enhance the visual appeal and functionality of your spreadsheets. This post will dive into five methods to achieve this, tailored to different needs and skill levels. Let's explore these techniques step-by-step.

1. Using the Column Width and Row Height Adjustments

The simplest approach involves manually adjusting the width of columns and the height of rows to match, ensuring cells appear as squares. Here’s how:

• Click on the column header to select an entire column.
• Right-click and choose ‘Column Width’ from the menu.
• Set the width to a value that aligns with your desired square dimensions.
• Similarly, adjust the row height to match the column width:
• Select the row by clicking on the row number.
• Right-click to open the menu, then choose ‘Row Height’.
• Input a value identical to your column width.

🔍 Note: If you’re working with metrics, 1 point in Excel equals ¹⁄₇₂ of an inch. Hence, setting both width and height to 72 points will give you a 1-inch square cell.

2. Utilizing Excel Formulas for Pixel Perfection

For a more precise approach, using Excel’s cell properties allows for perfect square creation. Here’s what you need to do:

• In Excel, cells are measured in points. 1 point = ¹⁄₇₂ of an inch, which translates to ¹⁄₉₆ of a pixel.
• Calculate the desired square dimension in pixels and convert it to points:
• For a 100x100 pixel square, the dimension in points would be (¹⁰⁰⁄₉₆)*72 = 75 points.
• Set your column width to this calculated value:

 =SET.COLUMN.WIDTH(75) 

• Similarly, adjust the row height to match the column width:

 =SET.ROW.HEIGHT(75) 

3. AutoFitting with VBA for Dynamic Squares

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) offers automation for achieving perfect squares. Here’s how to set up a macro:

• Open the Visual Basic Editor from the ‘Developer’ tab or press Alt + F11.
• In the Project Explorer, select your workbook and insert a new module:
• Right-click on ‘VBAProject’ -> ‘Insert’ -> ‘Module’
• Copy and paste the following VBA code into the module:

Sub MakeSquare()
    With Selection
        .ColumnWidth = 75
        .RowHeight = 75
    End With
End Sub
    

• Run the macro by placing the cursor within the code or from the ‘Developer’ tab -> ‘Macros’ -> Run.

4. The Formula Method for Symmetry

Excel’s formula capabilities can also ensure cells remain square. This approach is useful for ongoing data management:

• Enter the formula =ROW() in any cell to get the row number, which we’ll use to create symmetry:
• Copy this formula down or across to create a grid of numbers.
• Now, format the cells:
• Select the range you’ve filled.
• Go to ‘Format Cells’, choose ‘Number’ tab, and ensure the numbers are formatted without decimals.
• Use the number in a cell to dictate the square size:

 =SET.COLUMN.WIDTH(A1)
=SET.ROW.HEIGHT(A1)
    

5. Customizing with Excel Add-Ins

While Excel doesn’t have native tools for creating perfect squares, third-party add-ins or custom Excel plugins can simplify this task:

• Search for add-ins like ‘Square Cells’ in Excel’s Add-Ins store, which could offer a one-click solution.
• Alternatively, create or customize a plugin:
• Learn to code in VBA and develop a tool that adjusts cell sizes dynamically based on user input.
• Share or distribute your custom add-in for others to use.

By implementing any of these methods, you can enhance the visual layout of your Excel spreadsheets, ensuring cells are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing with their square shapes. Each approach offers its own advantages, from simple manual adjustments to advanced automation and customization. Choose the one that best fits your needs, skill level, and the scope of your project.

🎓 Note: Remember that making cells square might affect your spreadsheet's readability if the content is significantly skewed. Adjust your content or use conditional formatting to maintain clarity.

How does adjusting cell size affect my Excel formulas?

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Adjusting cell sizes does not directly impact formulas. However, if the cell content becomes hidden due to size adjustments, you might mistakenly think a formula has changed its output.

Can I create perfect squares in Excel for Mac?

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Yes, the methods described apply to Excel for Mac as well, though the user interface might differ slightly.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to set column width or row height?

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Unfortunately, there are no default keyboard shortcuts for setting exact column width or row height, but you can create custom shortcuts using VBA macros.