How to Add Borders to Cells in Excel?

You have entered your data in Excel, but your table does not look like a proper table yet.

You can see the rows and columns, but there are no clear lines separating the information.

For example, if you have a list of names, marks, prices, or expenses, it can be difficult to quickly see which values belong together.

This is where borders can help.

Borders are simply lines that you add around cells in Excel. They make your data easier to read and help your table look neat and organised.

You can add borders to one cell, several cells, a complete table, a row or a column.

You can also change the border style, colour and thickness.

Let’s see how to add borders to cells in Excel and how to use the different border options.

What Are Borders in Excel?

Borders are lines that you add around cells in your Excel worksheet.

For example, suppose you have a simple sales table:

Without borders, the data may not look very organised.

If you add borders, it becomes easier to see the different rows and columns.

Borders are useful when creating things like:

• Sales reports
• Attendance sheets
• Mark sheets
• Invoices
• Expense trackers
• Timetables
• Simple data tables

How to Add Borders to Cells in Excel?

Adding borders is very easy.

1. Select the cell or cells where you want to add a border.

2. Go to the Home tab.

3. Find the Font group.

4. Click the small arrow next to the Borders button.

5. Choose the border option you want.

Excel will apply the selected border to your cells.

You will see several options in the Borders menu, so let’s look at some of the most useful ones.

How to Add All Borders?

If you want a line around every cell in your selected range, choose All Borders.

For example, if you select cells A1:C4 and choose All Borders, Excel will add lines around every cell in that range.

This is one of the most commonly used border options.

It is useful when you want every row and column in your table to be clearly separated.

How to Add Outside Borders?

Sometimes you may not want lines between every cell.

You may only want a border around the outside of your table.

In that case, use Outside Borders.

1. Select your table.

2. Click the arrow next to Borders.

3. Choose Outside Borders.

Excel will add a border around the outside of the selected area.

This gives your table a simple and clean look.

Quick Tip: Add Outside Borders With a Shortcut:

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly add an outside border without opening the Borders menu.

Just select the cells and press:

Ctrl + Shift + &

Excel will add an outside border around the selected cells.

This is especially handy when you are formatting tables and don’t want to reach for the mouse every time.

How to Add a Bottom Border to Headings?

You can also use a border to separate your headings from the data below.

For example, suppose you have:

Product | Quantity | Price | Tota amount

Select the heading row and choose Bottom Border.

Excel will add a line below the headings.

This is a simple way to make your table easier to read without adding lines around every cell.

How to Add a Thick Outside Border?

Sometimes you may want to make an important section stand out.

For this, you can use Thick Outside Borders.

This adds a thicker line around the outside of your selected cells.

You can use it for things like:

• Final totals
• Invoice sections
• Summary tables
• Important report sections

For example, if you have a Total Amount at the bottom of an invoice, a thick border can help separate it from the rest of the information.

How to Change Border Color in Excel?

You don’t always have to use the default border color in Excel.

If you want to use a different colour for your borders, you can easily change it from the Borders menu.

Here’s how:

1. Select the cells where you want to add the border.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Click the small arrow next to Borders.
4. Choose Line Color.
5. Select the colour you want.
6. Open the Borders menu again and choose the border you want to apply.

Quick Tip: You Don’t Need to Select the Colour Every Time:

Once you select a border colour, Excel keeps that colour selected.

This means you can select another group of cells and apply a border, and Excel will use the same color automatically.

You don’t need to choose the color again every time.

The selected border color will stay the same until you change it to another color later.

If you want a different color later, simply choose a new Line Color from the Borders menu.

Try not to use too many colors in one table.

Simple colors usually make a worksheet look cleaner.

How to Change Border Style or Thickness?

You can also change the style and thickness of your borders.

For example, you can use:

• Thin lines
• Thick lines
• Dashed lines
• Double lines

For basic border options, you can use the Borders menu. But if you want more control over how your borders look, you can use Format Cells.

 How to Change Border Style Using Format Cells:

1. Select the cells.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. Click the Border tab.
4. Under Style, choose the line style or thickness you want.
5. Click the border positions where you want to apply the selected style.
6. Click OK.

This gives you more control because you can choose exactly which sides of the cells should have a border and what each border should look like.

Tip: If you need different border styles in the same table, Format Cells is usually easier than trying to do everything from the basic Borders menu.

How to Remove Borders in Excel?

Added a border by mistake?

No problem. You can remove it easily.

1. Select the cells with the border.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Click the arrow next to Borders.
4. Choose No Border.

Excel will remove the borders from the selected cells.

Borders vs. Gridlines in Excel:

If you are new to Excel, you may be wondering:

“Aren’t the grey lines I already see borders?”

No. Those are called gridlines.

Gridlines are the light grey lines you normally see across an Excel worksheet. They help you see the cells while you are working.

Borders are different because you add them yourself as formatting.

The difference is simple:

• Gridlines help you see the worksheet while working.
• Borders are formatting that you apply to selected cells.

For example, if you add a background colour to your cells, the gridlines may not be easy to see.

In that case, adding borders can make your table much clearer.

Borders are also useful when you want your table to look good when printed.

Common Border Problems in Excel:

Borders Are Not Showing:

First, check that you selected the correct cells.

Also check the border colour.

If you accidentally selected white as the border colour and your background is also white, you may not be able to see the border.

I Added Borders to the Wrong Cells:

Don’t worry.

Select those cells again, click the Borders arrow, and choose No Border.

Then select the correct cells and apply the border you want.

My Table Looks Too Crowded:

If you add thick borders to every cell, your table can start to look too heavy.

Try using thin borders for the main table.

Then use a thicker border only for headings, totals, or important sections.

I Can See Gridlines, but I Want Proper Table Lines:

If you want clear lines around your table, use All Borders.

Gridlines are mainly there to help you work with the worksheet. Borders give your selected cells actual formatting.

This is especially useful if you plan to print your worksheet or use background colours.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I add borders to all cells in Excel?

Select the cells, go to the Home tab, click the Borders arrow, and choose All Borders.

How do I add a border around a table in Excel?

Select the table, click the Borders arrow, and choose Outside Borders.

How do I add a thick border in Excel?

Select the cells, click the Borders arrow, and choose Thick Outside Borders.

You can also use Format Cells → Border if you want more control over the line style.

How do I remove borders in Excel?

Select the cells, click the Borders arrow, and choose No Border.

Can I change the border color in Excel?

Yes.

Click the Borders arrow, choose Line Color, select the colour you want, and then apply the border.

Can I change the thickness of an Excel border?

Yes.

You can choose a different line style from the Borders menu or go to Format Cells → Border for more options.

Final Thoughts:

Adding borders in Excel is a small formatting trick, but it can make a big difference.

Borders help your data look cleaner and make your tables easier to read.

You can use All Borders when you want lines around every cell, Outside Borders when you only want an outline, and thicker borders when you want to highlight something important.

So, the next time your Excel table looks a little difficult to follow, try adding some borders.

It only takes a few clicks, but your table can look much more organised.