Printing in Excel allows you to control exactly what gets printed and how it appears on paper. This guide covers the most important print options you need for everyday work.
How to Print a Worksheet in Excel
To print a worksheet:
- Click File → Print
- Use Print Preview to check how the pages will look
- Click Print to start printing
Tip: Use the arrows at the bottom of the preview window to move between pages.
What You Can Print
Excel lets you choose what to print instead of printing everything.
Print Selection
- Select the cells you want to print
- Go to File → Print
- Under Settings, choose Print Selection
Other Options
- Print Active Sheets (selected worksheets)
- Print Entire Workbook
- Print Specific Pages (e.g. page 2 to 2)
Print Multiple Copies
- Use the Copies box to set the number of copies
- Choose:
- Collated: prints complete sets in order
- Uncollated: prints the same page multiple times before moving on
Page Orientation
Choose how your data fits on the page:
- Portrait: more rows, fewer columns
- Landscape: more columns, fewer rows
Landscape is best for wide tables.
Adjust Page Margins
You can control spacing around your printout:
- Choose Normal, Wide, or Narrow margins
- Click Show Margins in Print Preview to drag margins manually
Scaling Options (Fit to Page)
To fit large data onto fewer pages:
- Fit Sheet on One Page
- Fit All Columns on One Page
- Fit All Rows on One Page
- Custom Scaling (set percentage or page width/height)
⚠️ Be careful: scaling too much can make text hard to read.
Why Print Settings Matter
- Avoid wasting paper
- Make reports easier to read
- Ensure professional-looking printouts