The quickest way to change row height

To change row height in Excel, click on the row number on the left side of the spreadsheet to select the entire row, then right-click and choose Row Height. Type the height you want (measured in points, where one point equals 1/72 of an inch), then click OK. If you want to adjust multiple rows at once, click the first row number, hold Shift, and click the last row number, then right-click and set the height for all of them together.

You can also double-click the line between two row numbers to auto-fit the height — Excel will automatically expand the row to fit whatever text or content is inside it. This is faster than typing a specific measurement and works well when you have text that wraps across multiple lines.

A third method is to position your cursor on the line between two row numbers until it turns into a resize arrow, then drag up or down to the height you want. This gives you visual control and is often the fastest for one or two rows.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a row number and select Row Height to enter a specific measurement in points.
  • Double-click the line between row numbers to auto-fit the row height to your content automatically.
  • Drag the line between row numbers to visually resize rows without entering a number.
  • Select multiple rows by clicking the first row number, holding Shift, and clicking the last row number, then adjust all of them at once.

Using auto-fit for rows with wrapped text

Auto-fit is the method to use when you have cells with text that wraps to multiple lines. Instead of guessing the right height, Excel measures the content and sets the row tall enough to show everything. Click the row number to select it, then double-click the line between that row and the next one at the top of the spreadsheet.

If you want to auto-fit several rows at once, select them all first (click the first row number, hold Shift, click the last row number), then double-click any line between the selected rows. Excel will adjust each row individually to fit its content.

Dragging to resize rows visually

Dragging is often the fastest method when you only need to adjust one or two rows and you can see roughly how tall they should be. Position your cursor on the line between two row numbers in the row header (the gray area on the left with the numbers). Your cursor will change to a resize arrow — a line with arrows pointing up and down.

Click and drag that line upward to make the row shorter or downward to make it taller. Release the mouse when the row reaches the height you want. This method gives you instant visual feedback and does not require you to know or enter a specific measurement.

Setting a specific row height with the menu

When you need an exact height — for example, if you are formatting a template that other people will use — use the Row Height dialog. Right-click the row number and select Row Height. A small box will appear asking you to enter a number.

The number is measured in points. One point equals 1/72 of an inch, so 18 points is roughly 1/4 inch tall. Standard row height in Excel is 15 points. If you want a row that is half an inch tall, enter 36. Type your number and click OK.

Adjusting multiple rows to the same height

Select all the rows you want to change by clicking the first row number, then holding Shift and clicking the last row number. All the rows between them will highlight in blue. Right-click any of the selected rows and choose Row Height.

Enter the height you want and click OK. Every selected row will change to that exact height at once. This is useful when you are building a form or template where you want consistent spacing, or when you need to make several rows taller to accommodate a header or title.

Undoing a row height change

If you change a row height and then realize it was wrong, press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on a Mac) to undo the change. Excel will restore the row to its previous height. You can undo multiple changes by pressing Ctrl+Z several times in a row.

If you have already closed the file and reopened it, undo will not work. In that case, you will need to manually adjust the row height again or use the row's default height. To reset a row to Excel's default height, right-click it and select Row Height, then enter 15 (the standard default).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default row height in Excel?

The default row height in Excel is 15 points, which is roughly 0.2 inches or about 5 millimeters. If you want to reset a row to this standard height, right-click the row number, select Row Height, and enter 15.

Can I set a minimum or maximum row height?

Excel does not have built-in minimum or maximum row height limits that you set in advance. However, you can manually set any height you want, from very small (1 point) to very large (409 points is the practical maximum). If you need rows to stay a certain height, you can lock the sheet and protect it so others cannot change row heights.

Why does my row height keep changing when I type?

Excel auto-fits row height by default when you enter text that is taller than the current row. If you want to prevent this, right-click the row number, select Row Height, and set a specific height. The row will then stay at that height even when you add taller text — the text will just wrap or be cut off instead.

How do I make all rows the same height at once?

Click the select-all button (the gray box in the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet), then right-click and choose Row Height. Enter the height you want, and every row in the sheet will change to that height.