Print Column Headers on Each Page in Excel

What You’ll Need

A Windows or Mac computer with Microsoft Excel installed (any recent version).
The workbook that contains the worksheet you want to print.
Your column headers must be in one or more contiguous rows at the top of the sheet (for example, row 1).

Step-by-Step

Open the worksheet – Open the Excel file and click the sheet tab at the bottom that contains the data you want to print. If you have multiple sheets, repeat the process for each one that needs repeating headers.
Go to Page Setup – On the ribbon, click the Page Layout tab. In the Page Setup group, click Print Titles. (On a Mac, the button is also called Print Titles; in some versions it may be under the File menu > Print > Page Setup.)
Set the rows to repeat – In the Page Setup dialog box, go to the Sheet tab. Click inside the Rows to repeat at top field. Then click the small collapse icon at the right end of the field to shrink the dialog and select the row(s) that contain your column headers. Click the header row number (for example, row 1) or drag to select multiple rows if your headers span two rows. Click the collapse icon again to return to the dialog.
Confirm and close – Click OK to save the setting. The dialog will close, and your selection is now set.
Preview and print – Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the Print preview. Scroll through the pages to confirm the header row appears at the top of every page. If it looks correct, click Print.

Common Mistakes

Selecting the wrong row – Make sure you select the row that contains the actual column headers, not the first data row. If you select a data row, that data will repeat instead of the headers.
Setting print titles on the wrong sheet – Print titles are per-sheet. If you set them on one sheet, they won’t apply to other sheets in the workbook. You must repeat the steps for each sheet that needs it.
Using Freeze Panes instead – Freeze Panes keeps headers visible on screen, but it does NOT affect printing. You must use Print Titles for printed pages.
Forgetting to check the print area – If you have a defined print area that excludes the header row, the headers won’t appear. Make sure your print area includes the header row or clear it.
Clicking the wrong field – In the Page Setup dialog, some users accidentally type in “Columns to repeat at left” instead of “Rows to repeat at top.” That repeats a column on the left of each page, not the top header.

Tips

Use a single row for headers – If your headers are in multiple rows, select all of them. Excel will repeat the entire block.
Check the print preview – Always preview before printing. It saves paper and shows you exactly what will appear on each page.
Set print titles before adjusting margins – If you change margins or scaling later, the headers will still repeat correctly.
Use the same setting in Google Sheets – If you ever use Google Sheets, the equivalent is File > Print > Headers & Footers > “Repeat frozen rows.” That’s a different process, but the idea is similar.
Save the workbook after setting – Print titles are saved with the workbook, so you only need to set them once per sheet.

Troubleshooting

Headers don’t repeat on every page. Double-check that you selected the correct row in the “Rows to repeat at top” field. Also verify that the print area includes the header row. If you have a print area set, go to Page Layout > Print Area > Clear Print Area, then try again.

The Print Titles button is grayed out. This usually happens when you are in cell editing mode or have a chart selected. Click any cell in the worksheet to exit editing mode, then try again.

Headers repeat on screen but not in print. That’s because you used Freeze Panes (View tab > Freeze Panes). Freeze Panes only affects the on-screen view. Use Print Titles as described above.

Headers repeat on some pages but not others. If you have manual page breaks, the headers will still appear on each page as long as the print titles are set. If they don’t, check that the page breaks are not inside the header row area. Also ensure that the print area includes all rows you want to print.

Headers appear but are cut off. This can happen if the header row is too tall or the margins are too small. Adjust the row height or reduce the top margin in Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.

I can’t find the Page Setup dialog on Mac. In Excel for Mac, go to the Page Layout tab and click Print Titles. If it’s not there, click File > Print, then at the bottom of the print settings, click “Show Details” and look for “Page Setup.” The option may be under “Sheet” or “Layout.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I repeat column headers on each page in Excel for Mac?

Yes. The process is nearly identical: go to Page Layout > Print Titles, then set the Rows to repeat at top. The dialog looks the same as on Windows.

Will the headers repeat if I export to PDF?

Yes, if the print titles are set, they will appear in the PDF export as well, because the PDF uses the same print settings.

Can I set different headers for different pages?

No, Excel only allows one set of rows to repeat for the entire sheet. If you need different headers for different sections, you would need to split the data into separate sheets or use a different tool.

What if my headers are in a column, not a row?

If your headers are in a column (e.g., row labels), you can use the “Columns to repeat at left” option in the same Page Setup dialog. That will repeat that column on the left of each printed page.

Does this work in Excel Online (free web version)?

No, Excel for the web does not support setting print titles. You would need to use the desktop version of Excel to set this up, and then the setting will be honored when you print from the web version.

I have a table, not a range. Does it work?

Yes, you can set print titles for any data range, including a formatted Excel table. Just select the row that contains the table headers.

Sources: Microsoft Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.