5 Ways to Print a Blank Excel Sheet With Gridlines

Whether you're preparing a template, creating a form, or simply prefer to work on paper for certain tasks, printing a blank Excel sheet with gridlines can be quite useful. Excel, known for its robust functionality in data management, offers several methods to achieve this. Here are five straightforward ways to print your blank Excel sheet with gridlines, ensuring your prints are both functional and aesthetically appealing.

Using Page Layout Settings

The simplest way to print a blank Excel sheet with gridlines is by adjusting the Page Layout settings.

• Open your Excel workbook.
• Select the worksheet you want to print.
• Go to the Page Layout tab.
• Check the box for Print under Gridlines in the Sheet Options group.
• Head to the File menu, then Print, and review your settings. Ensure “Print Gridlines” is selected.
• Click Print to print your blank sheet with gridlines.

💡 Note: Always review your print settings before printing to avoid unnecessary paper wastage.

Adjusting View Options

Another way to ensure gridlines are printed is through Excel’s View options.

• Navigate to the View tab on your Ribbon.
• Under the Show group, make sure Gridlines are checked.
• Go to File > Print, and you should see gridlines in the print preview.
• If gridlines are not shown, revisit the Page Layout settings and enable printing of gridlines as described above.

Printing Only the Grid

If you only want the grid without any data:

• Open Excel, create or open your desired workbook.
• Select all data (Ctrl + A), then hit the Delete key to clear the contents.
• Go to File > Print and make sure gridline printing is enabled in Page Layout settings.
• Print the sheet.

Using Print Area

To print a specific area of your blank worksheet:

• Highlight the cells you want to print.
• Go to Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area.
• Check Print Gridlines in the same tab.
• Navigate to File > Print and ensure your print area reflects the selected range with gridlines.

👉 Note: Setting the print area also ensures you print only the necessary part of your worksheet, saving time and paper.

Using Excel Macros

If you often print blank sheets, automating this task with VBA macros can be highly beneficial:

• Open Excel, press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.
• Click Insert > Module, then paste this code:

  
  Sub PrintBlankSheetWithGridlines()
      ‘ Clear contents of active sheet
      ActiveSheet.Cells.ClearContents
      ’ Set print area to whole sheet
      ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = “”
      ‘ Enable printing gridlines
      ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintGridlines = True
      ’ Print the sheet
      ActiveSheet.PrintOut
  End Sub
  
  

• Close the VBA Editor and return to Excel.
• Run the macro by pressing Alt + F8, select “PrintBlankSheetWithGridlines”, and click Run.

Here are some final considerations when printing blank Excel sheets with gridlines:

• Customization: You can further customize your print settings like setting margins, orientation, scaling, etc., to fit your specific needs.
• Printer Compatibility: Not all printers handle Excel's print settings the same way. Ensure your printer supports gridline printing.
• Efficiency: Use these methods not just for blank sheets but to enhance your printing workflow for any Excel document.

In summary, whether you're setting up a project template, preparing worksheets for students or colleagues, or simply enjoying the tactile feedback of paper work, Excel's array of features makes printing a blank sheet with gridlines a breeze. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and enjoy the clarity and organization that gridlines bring to your printed materials.

Why can’t I see gridlines in my Excel print preview?

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Gridlines might not appear in the print preview if the “Print Gridlines” setting is disabled in the Page Layout tab. Make sure to check this option before printing.

Can I print gridlines in color?

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By default, Excel prints gridlines in black. However, you can manually change the color of gridlines in the view settings, but this might not reflect in the printout.

Is there a way to print gridlines on only selected cells?

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Yes, you can use the print area feature to specify which cells should include gridlines when printing. However, gridlines will be applied to the entire print area.

Can VBA macros be saved for future use?

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Absolutely, after creating a macro, you can save it within your Personal Macro Workbook to access it across multiple Excel sessions.