This unformatted spreadsheet has several readability issues which we’ll address throughout this article.

An example will make this clearer.

Excel will then draw a thicker line to demonstrate where the freezing has taken effect.

Some Excel screens open showing different types of spreadsheets.

Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek

Now, when you scroll down or across, you’ll see that the headers remain viewable.

Pressing Ctrl+Z (undo) will not work.

After all, Excel already has its in-built gridlines to help you differentiate between cells.

An unformatted Excel spreadsheet containing several rows and columns of data.

Instead, color your cells or use horizontal borders only.

First, opt for row you want to affect (in our case, row 102).

For more border or color options, right-choose the row number, and click “Format Cells.”

An Excel spreadsheet with the Freeze Panes option selected.

Whichever color you choose, use variants of that same color throughout your spreadsheet (tip 3).

Furthermore, you might let Excel create the table formatting for you (tip 5).

This means that the text runs onto the next line to fit into the chosen cell width.

An Excel sheet with the first row and column frozen.

To do this, highlight the header row, and bring up the “Home” tab.

Then, in the Alignment group, click “Wrap Text.”

So, the second step is toadjust the column widths.

An excel worksheet with a totals row at the bottom of a table of data.

To do this, highlight all cells in the worksheet by clicking the top-left cell reference square.

Glance at your table to see to it you’re happy that the text and data fit nicely.

If you’re not, simply adjust them again until they look great.

An Excel worksheet with a totals row at the foot of a table colored and with a top border.

Once you’ve achieved a suitable cell width, click anywhere on your sheet to deselect the cells.

We’d also recommend that you center-align your headers vertically and horizontally to add that extra professional quality.

opt for header row and click both center alignment icons in the Alignment group on the Home tab.

An Excel worksheet with the header row highlighted and ‘Wrap Text’ selected.

In Excel, by default, text aligns to the left and numbers align to the right.

To get around this, right-poke the relevant cell and click “New Note.”

Hover over any cells containing this red marker to see the note.

An Excel worksheet with all cells highlighted and an arrow pointing at the divide between two column headers where it is possible to change the column widths.

you’re free to also tell Excel toformat your tables.

To do this, highlight all the data in your table, including the header row or column.

To keep your layout intact,back up your worksheet as a PDF.

An Excel worksheet with the header row center-aligned.

An Excel worksheet with the ‘New Note’ option selected after having right-clicked on a cell.

An Excel worksheet with a cell H1’s note in view.

Data selected in an Excel worksheet, and the chart options highlighted.

The Format As Table option displayed in an Excel worksheet.

Excel’s Table Style Options group in the Table Design tab is displayed.

The Save As window with ‘PDF’ selected as the Save As Type option.