To make all cells the same size in Excel, select the whole worksheet, then set one common column width and one common row height. On Windows, both settings are under Home > Cells > Format.
Excel sizes entire rows and columns, so individual cells cannot have independent dimensions. Equal-sized cells can be rectangles; making them square requires matching their physical width and height because the ordinary sizing dialogs use different units. The desktop steps below cover Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024.
The short version
- Whole worksheet: Click Select All where the row numbers meet the column letters before resizing.
- Windows: Open Home > Cells > Format, then set Column Width and Row Height separately.
- Mac: Use Format > Column > Width and Format > Row > Height.
- Browser: Select the headings and drag a column boundary, then a row boundary, to apply common dimensions.
- Square cells: Match the physical width and height in Page Layout view.
| Method | Use it for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Windows ribbon sizing | Exact common dimensions | Set both width and height |
| Windows column shortcut menu | Matching one column to the common width | Set row height through the ribbon |
| Mac menu bar sizing | Exact common dimensions | Set both width and height |
| Drag selected headings | Quick desktop or web resizing | Drag once for each dimension |
| Physical measurements | Square cells | Match the number and unit |
| Paste column widths | Matching an existing column | Set row heights separately |
| Copy a worksheet | Reusing a finished grid | Copies its contents too |
| Unmerge cells | Removing larger merged areas | Apply common dimensions afterward |
| Increase shared dimensions | Making room for longer text | Keep the same size across the selection |
| Remove worksheet protection | Allowing blocked resizing | A password may be required |
Select the cells you want to resize
Click Select All where the row numbers meet the column letters to select the entire worksheet. On Windows, you can also press Ctrl + A repeatedly until the whole sheet is selected. The first press can select only the current data region, so check the selection before resizing.
For a smaller grid, drag across the column letters you want to resize, then select the required row numbers when you change the height. On Windows, hold Ctrl while clicking additional headings to select separate rows or columns. Any dimension change affects the complete rows or columns, including cells outside the rectangle you are working on.
Set matching dimensions in Excel for Windows
With the worksheet selected, open Home > Cells > Format > Column Width. Enter a value in Column width, such as 15, then select OK. Every selected column receives that width.
Keep the worksheet selected and open Home > Cells > Format > Row Height. Enter a value in Row height, such as 24, then select OK. You now have equal-sized rectangular cells, with each column equally wide and each row equally tall.
To set a single column quickly, right-click its selected column heading and choose Column Width. Enter the same common width and select OK, then use the ribbon to set the row height separately.
Set matching dimensions in Excel for Mac
Click the Select All triangle to select the whole sheet, or select the column headings you want to change. From the menu bar, choose Format > Column > Width, enter the common width, and accept the dialog.
Next, select the target rows or the whole worksheet. Choose Format > Row > Height, enter the common height, and accept the dialog. Set both dimensions even if you only need a uniform rectangular grid.
Resize cells by dragging on desktop or web
In Excel for the web, or when you prefer dragging on desktop, select the target column headings first. Drag the right boundary of any selected column heading to apply one common width to the selection. For the entire sheet, click Select All before dragging.
Then select the required row headings and drag the bottom boundary of any selected heading to apply a common height. For a whole-sheet change, keep the entire sheet selected for this step. Drag once for each dimension.
Use a single drag when your goal is equal sizing. Double-clicking a heading boundary applies AutoFit, which sizes rows or columns to their contents. Different contents can produce different dimensions, so use fixed sizes to keep the grid uniform.
Make the cells square
For square cells on Windows, select View > Workbook Views > Page Layout. Open File > Options > Advanced, then choose your preferred Ruler units under Display. Select the target grid and set its column width and row height to the same physical measurement, such as 1 centimeter.
Use the horizontal and vertical rulers to check that both dimensions match. Physical measurements can be rounded to screen pixels, so small display differences are possible. Match both the measurement unit and the number.
On Mac, open Excel > Preferences > View and choose the measurement under Ruler units. Select View > Page Layout, then select View > Ruler if you need to display the rulers. Resize the selected rows and columns to the same physical measurement; column boundary ScreenTips also show the size while you drag.
Reuse a size or a finished worksheet
To match an existing column width on Windows without pasting its contents, copy a cell in that column with Ctrl + C, then select the destination columns. Press Ctrl + Alt + V to open Paste Special, press W to select Column widths, then press Enter. These keys apply to the English interface with a US keyboard layout, and row heights still need a separate setting.
On Mac, copy a cell in the source column and select the destination columns. Choose Edit > Paste Special, select Column Widths, then select OK. Apply the common row height afterward to finish matching both dimensions.
For a grid you want to reuse with its contents, copy the entire Excel worksheet. On Windows, right-click its tab, select Move or Copy, check Create a copy, choose its position under Before sheet, and select OK. In Excel for the web, right-click the source tab and select Duplicate.
On Mac, select Edit > Sheet > Move or Copy Sheet, then choose the destination and position. Select Create a copy, then select OK.
Fix uneven cells and blocked resizing
Merged cells span multiple underlying cells, so they can still look larger after you equalize the rows and columns. Select the merged cells, open the Merge & Center arrow, and choose Unmerge Cells, then apply the common dimensions again. If your layout uses merged headings, review how to merge and unmerge cells before changing them.
A fixed grid can leave longer text without enough room. You can wrap text inside Excel cells to arrange it across lines, but wrapping does not establish a common grid size. Increase the shared width or height as needed to display the content while keeping the dimensions equal.
When resizing is blocked on Windows, select Review > Unprotect Sheet, enter the password when required, and select OK. In Excel for the web, select Review > Manage Protection and turn off Protect sheet while resizing. Apply the common dimensions after removing that restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make cells the same size on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device?
You can match dimensions visually by tapping a row or column heading and dragging its resizing boundary, then repeating for the other headings and dimension. On Android, drag from the double-line indicator at the heading's edge. For exact numerical sizing across a whole worksheet, use the desktop sizing dialogs.
How do you keep equal column widths after a PivotTable refresh?
After setting equal widths, click inside the PivotTable and select PivotTable Analyze > Options. Open Layout & Format on Windows or Layout on Mac, uncheck Autofit column widths on update, and select OK. This preserves the widths you have already set.
Can you apply the same cell size to several worksheets at once?
On Windows, hold Ctrl while selecting the worksheet tabs, or right-click a tab and select Select All Sheets. Select the target rows and columns and apply the common width and height. When finished, right-click a grouped tab and select Ungroup Sheets.
Does changing the default column width fix an uneven worksheet?
For an existing irregular grid, explicitly resize the columns instead of relying on the default setting. To change the worksheet's default on Windows, select its tab, open Home > Cells > Format > Default Width, enter the value in Standard column width, and select OK. This setting does not establish a common row height.
How can you prevent other people from changing the cell dimensions?
After sizing the grid on Windows, select Review > Protect Sheet. Uncheck Format columns and Format rows, then select OK. Those protection settings prevent changes to column widths and row heights.