Ever printed an Excel sheet and thought "Why do these faint lines make my report look messy?" Or maybe you're prepping a presentation and want cleaner slides? That's why learning how to hide gridlines in Excel matters. I remember wasting three color ink cartridges before realizing those gray lines were optional. Let's fix that for you.
What Exactly Are Gridlines in Excel?
Gridlines are those light gray lines separating cells on your spreadsheet. They're like training wheels – helpful when you're building tables but annoying in final drafts. By default, Excel shows them everywhere (even on printed pages). But here's the kicker: they're visual guides only, not actual borders.
Fun fact: Excel gridlines don't exist in exported PDFs if you disable them first. Found that out after emailing 50 clients a "professional" report with distracting lines everywhere. Awkward.
Gridlines Vs Borders: What's the Difference?
| Feature | Gridlines | Borders |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Entire worksheet | Selected cells only |
| Printing | Optional (default: visible) | Always prints if applied |
| Customization | On/Off only | Color, thickness, line style |
| Where they appear | All cells automatically | Only where you manually add them |
This table explains why you might hide Excel gridlines but add custom borders. Personally, I only use borders for financial tables now – cleaner look.
When You Should (and Shouldn't) Hide Gridlines
Good Reasons to Hide Gridlines
- Printing reports: Eliminates faint lines that waste ink and distract from data
- Creating dashboards: Gives polished look for presentations (my clients stopped complaining)
- Designing forms: Prevents visual clutter in user-facing documents
- Saving screenshots: Cleaner images for manuals or tutorials
When to Keep Them Visible
- Data entry tasks: Helps track rows/columns (I leave them on during raw input)
- Editing phase: Useful for aligning content before finalizing
- Large datasets: Prevents eye strain during long sessions
How to Hide Gridlines in Excel: 5 Proven Methods
You don't need to be an Excel wizard for this. I've tested all versions from Excel 2010 to Microsoft 365. These steps work universally.
The 5-Second View Tab Method
Open your Excel workbook
Navigate to the View tab on the ribbon
In the Show group, uncheck Gridlines
Poof! Gridlines vanish instantly. This is my daily driver method – takes literally three clicks. Changes apply only to the active worksheet though. Want to hide gridlines in Excel permanently? Keep reading.
Page Layout Method (For Printing)
This one's crucial when preparing documents for printing:
Go to the Page Layout tab
Under Sheet Options, uncheck View under Gridlines
Uncheck Print under Gridlines (this stops them appearing on paper)
Annoying quirk: Why are there two separate checkboxes? Microsoft logic. I've forgotten the "Print" option before and wasted paper. Double-check both.
White Gridline Color Trick
Need gridlines visible during editing but invisible when printed? Try this workaround:
Go to File > Options
Select Advanced in the left pane
Scroll to Display options for this worksheet
Change gridline color to White
Honestly, this feels like cheating. But it works when you need temporary visual guides without print traces.
VBA Method for Power Users
Automate gridline control with this simple macro:
Sub ToggleGridlines()
ActiveWindow.DisplayGridlines = Not ActiveWindow.DisplayGridlines
End Sub
Bind this to a keyboard shortcut if you toggle frequently. Saves me hours monthly. But test macros first – crashed Excel once when I messed up the code.
Key Settings That Affect Gridline Visibility
| Setting Location | What It Does | Persistence |
|---|---|---|
| View Tab | Toggles on-screen visibility | Per worksheet |
| Page Layout Tab | Controls printing behavior | Saved with workbook |
| Excel Options | Changes gridline color globally | Applies to all new workbooks |
Why Gridlines Won't Disappear
If hiding Excel gridlines isn't working, check these culprits:
- Applied borders: Manual borders override gridline settings
- Cell fill colors: White-filled cells mask gridlines
- Protected sheets: Disables gridline changes (right-click sheet tab)
- Corrupted view: Happens after complex formatting (try closing/reopening)
Borders: The Secret Alternative to Gridlines
When clients ask for "professional-looking tables", I hide gridlines and add custom borders instead. Here's my workflow:
Hide gridlines using View tab method
Select target cells
Press Ctrl+1 to open Format Cells
Go to Border tab
Choose line style and apply to outer edges
Result? Crisp, printer-friendly tables. Pro tip: Use light gray borders (#D9D9D9) for subtle guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding gridlines affect formulas or data?
Zero impact. Gridlines are visual aids only. Your data stays perfectly safe – I've tested this across 500+ sheets.
Why do gridlines still appear when I email the sheet?
Recipients see gridlines based on their Excel settings. Export as PDF instead: File > Export > Create PDF/XPS.
Can I hide gridlines in specific cells only?
Not directly. Workarounds:
- White cell background over gridlines
- Apply white borders matching gridline positions
How to permanently disable gridlines for all new workbooks?
Create a blank workbook
Hide gridlines via View tab
Save as Excel Template (*.xltx)
Name it Book.xltx and save in Excel's STARTUP folder
Location varies by Windows version. Took me three tries to find mine.
My Personal Excel Gridline Strategy
After years of financial reporting, here's my system:
- During data entry: Keep gridlines on
- While formatting: Apply custom borders where needed
- Before printing: Uncheck both gridline options in Page Layout
- For dashboards: Hide gridlines + add light borders
The key is understanding that how to hide gridlines in Excel isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It depends entirely on your end goal.
Bonus: Advanced Gridline Control Techniques
Conditional Gridline Hiding with VBA
This macro hides gridlines only when printing:
Private Sub Workbook_BeforePrint(Cancel As Boolean)
ActiveSheet.DisplayPageBreaks = False
ActiveWindow.DisplayGridlines = False
End Sub
Use cautiously – test on copies. I once accidentally disabled printing entirely for a week.
Excel Online Differences
Microsoft 365 web version handles gridlines differently:
- No separate print/view settings – toggle affects both
- Access via View > Show Gridlines
- No color customization options
Troubleshooting Checklist
Still seeing lines? Run through this:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Gridlines visible on printed pages | Uncheck "Print" under Page Layout > Sheet Options |
| Gray lines persist despite toggling | Check for applied borders (Home > Borders > No Border) |
| Changes don't save | Verify worksheet protection status |
| Gridlines missing in specific areas | Look for white cell fill colors |
Mastering how to hide gridlines in Excel transforms chaotic sheets into professional documents. Start with the View tab method today – it's genuinely life-changing for report formatting.
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