How to Print Lines on Excel Sheet (Gridlines)

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Excel (desktop version for Windows or Mac; the steps are similar in Excel Online, but some options may be limited).
A spreadsheet with data you want to print.

Step-by-Step

Open your workbook – Start Excel and open the file containing the sheet you want to print. Make sure you are on the correct sheet (tab at the bottom).
Go to Page Layout – Click the Page Layout tab in the ribbon at the top of the Excel window. This tab contains all printing and page setup options.
Find the Sheet Options group – On the right side of the Page Layout ribbon, look for the Sheet Options group. It has two sections: Gridlines and Headings. Under Gridlines, you’ll see two checkboxes: View and Print.
Check the Print box – Click the checkbox next to Print under Gridlines. A checkmark appears, and Excel will now include the gridlines when you print this sheet.
Preview and print – Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the Print dialog. In the preview pane, you should see the gridlines on the page. If everything looks good, click Print.
Adjust if needed – If the gridlines don’t appear in the preview, go to File > Print > Page Setup (bottom of the settings) > Sheet tab, and check the Gridlines box under Print. Then click OK and print again.

Common Mistakes

Checking the View box instead of Print – The View box only shows gridlines on your screen; it doesn’t affect printing.
Forgetting to select the correct sheet – If you have multiple sheets, the gridline setting applies only to the active sheet. You must repeat the steps for each sheet you want to print with lines.
Using cell borders instead of gridlines – Some people manually add borders, which works but is time-consuming and may not cover the entire print area. Gridlines are automatic and adjust to the print area.
Not checking the print preview – Always preview before printing. Sometimes the gridlines are too light or the print area is wrong, and you won’t know until you see the preview.

Tips

To print gridlines on all sheets at once, select multiple sheet tabs (hold Ctrl and click each tab), then set the Print option. This applies the setting to all selected sheets.
If you want thicker or colored lines, use borders instead. Select the range, go to Home > Borders, and choose a line style and color.
To remove gridlines from printing later, simply uncheck the Print box in Sheet Options.
If you only want gridlines on a specific part of the sheet, set a print area (Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area) and then enable gridlines.
For Excel Online, the Print option for gridlines is found under File > Print > Page Setup > Sheet > Gridlines. The Sheet Options group may not be available in the ribbon.

Troubleshooting

Gridlines don’t show in print preview – Double-check that the Print checkbox is ticked. Also, make sure you are looking at the correct sheet. If you have a print area set, the gridlines will only appear within that area.
Gridlines are too light to see – Excel prints gridlines in a light gray. If they are too faint, you can change the color of the gridlines (File > Options > Advanced > Display options for this worksheet > Gridline color) or use borders for a darker line.
Gridlines print on some pages but not others – This can happen if the print area is split across pages. Check the print preview to see which pages have lines. You may need to adjust the print area or scaling.
Gridlines appear on screen but not in print – This is the classic mistake of checking View instead of Print. Go back to Page Layout > Sheet Options and recheck the Print box.
Gridlines disappear when exporting to PDF – If you export to PDF using the Print dialog, the gridlines should be included. If not, try using the Save As PDF option and check the settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t gridlines print by default?

Excel does not print gridlines by default to keep printed pages clean and save ink. You have to enable the Print option each time you want them.

Can I print gridlines on only a specific range of cells?

Yes. Set a print area around the range you want, then enable gridlines. The gridlines will only appear within that print area.

How do I make gridlines darker when printing?

You can change the gridline color in Excel Options (File > Options > Advanced > Display options for this worksheet > Gridline color). Or apply cell borders with a darker color and thicker line style.

Will gridlines print if I use the ‘Print Active Sheets’ option?

Yes, as long as the Print checkbox is enabled for that sheet. The setting is per sheet, not per print job.

Can I save the gridline setting so it stays for future prints?

Yes. The setting is saved with the workbook. Once you check the Print box and save the file, it will remain for that sheet.

Why do my gridlines show in the preview but not in the actual printout?

This is rare but can happen if your printer is set to ‘Draft’ mode or if the ink is low. Check your printer settings and try printing a test page.

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