Google Sheets is a versatile interface for organizing, storing, and analyzing data. However, if your data doesn’t fit within the cells, your spreadsheet can become unreadable.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll show you how to resize cells in Google Sheets. We’ll walk you through the different methods step by step, providing real examples to guide you along the way.
Benefits of Resizing Cells in Sheets
Resizing a cell allows you to present your data in a clear way, making it easier to read and analyze. Here are a few additional benefits of resizing cells:
- Improved readability: Adjusting cell size enhances the readability of your spreadsheet by displaying data clearly.
- Better organization: Resizing cells allows you to organize your spreadsheet more efficiently, making it easier to search for and manipulate data.
- Increased productivity: A well-organized spreadsheet enables faster access to the data you need, improving productivity.
- Enhanced aesthetics: Resizing cells can improve the overall appearance of your spreadsheet, making it easier to navigate.
These are just a few of the advantages, as resizing cells covers a wide range of use cases.
Four Methods to Resize Cells in Google Sheets
Every row and column in Google Sheets has a default width and height. However, these default sizes are not always sufficient to accommodate your data, so adjustments are necessary. Let’s explore the examples below to learn the different methods of resizing cells in Google Sheets.
1. Adjusting Column Width to Resize Cells
Before diving into the examples, let’s prepare a sample dataset to illustrate our explanations. We’ll use Coefficient to import a Shopify dataset into Google Sheets. Coefficient is a powerful Google Sheets add-on that allows you to retrieve live business data from various systems.
Now, let’s move on to resizing cells in Google Sheets. One way to change the size of a cell in Google Sheets is by adjusting the column width. Once your sample data is ready, follow the steps below to modify the width of a column.
As you can see, the values in the ID column don’t show the complete data because the cell width is too small. Manually adjust the width so that the data is displayed within the cell. Hover your mouse cursor over the line between columns C and D until a double arrow appears. Click and drag the line to the right to increase the column width. Adjust the width until the entire cell content is visible. It’s as simple as that.
You can also use Google Sheets’ autofit feature to automatically adjust the width of a column to display all the content. Hover your mouse cursor over the same line between columns C and D until a double arrow appears. Now, double click your mouse, and Google Sheets will automatically adjust the cell width to display the data.
2. Adjusting Row Height to Resize Cells
In addition to adjusting cell width, you can also change the height of rows to create more space for your data. As you can see in the example table below, cell E2 doesn’t show all the data.
To adjust the height of the row for the cell, hover your mouse over the line between the two rows until the icon shows a double arrow. Click and drag the line downward until all the content of cell E3 is clearly displayed. Drag the row border up or down to increase or decrease the height as needed.
You can also use the autofit feature mentioned in the previous example by double-clicking the row border. Google Sheets will automatically adjust the column width or row height to fit the text.
3. Adjusting Cell Size by Modifying Both Height and Width
Instead of resizing rows and columns individually, you can simultaneously adjust the height and width using the “Select All” button. This will instantly make the rows and columns the same size. Click on the “Select All” button or the empty cell below the name area. This will select all cells in your spreadsheet.
Follow the steps from our previous examples to adjust the width of rows and the height of columns accordingly. All cells will adjust instantly to the same sizes when you modify the width of rows and the height of columns.
In addition to resizing cells, you can also adjust the text in Google Sheets to prevent it from overflowing into adjacent cells.
4. Adjusting Multiple Rows and Columns Simultaneously
Google Sheets allows you to resize multiple cells, columns, and rows simultaneously. Hold down the “Ctrl” key (or the “cmd” key on Mac) and click the mouse icon on the column letter or row number to highlight the columns or rows you want to resize. Using our Shopify table as an example, select rows three to six.
Hover your mouse cursor over the line between the rows until a double arrow appears. Click on the line. Drag the line up or down to adjust the cell rows accordingly. The selected cells should show narrower or wider lines depending on how you want to adjust the cells.
You can also specify the desired row height for your cells. Right-click on the last selected cell (row six in our example) and select “Resize rows 3 – 6” from the dropdown menu. Specify the desired row height in the context menu. Lower values will make your rows smaller. You can also select the “Fit to data” option to allow Google Sheets to automatically adjust the row height based on the largest cell data.
Click “OK,” and you will see your customized row adjustments or new column widths in your Google Sheets.
After resizing your cells, you can start applying the desired formatting. For example, you can apply filters to the column header of your choice or freeze a row in Google Sheets.
What to Consider When Resizing Cells in Google Sheets
Here are some important factors to consider when resizing cells in Google Sheets:
- Avoid merging cells to resize a cell. The cell merge function combines multiple cells into one. However, using this option to resize cells can cause formatting and calculation issues.
- Consider resizing cells using the “Fit to data” option. When manually adjusting cell size, the cells may become too small to display all their content. To avoid this, use the “Fit to data” option by double-clicking the line between two rows or columns.
- Avoid resizing cells in a table with a header row or column. Resizing cells within a table with a header row or column can cause formatting issues if the header row or column doesn’t align properly with the rest of the table.
In general, resizing cells is straightforward, and most issues you encounter will be formatting-related.
Resize Cells in Google Sheets Effortlessly
Resizing cells in Google Sheets is a simple process that can significantly improve the readability and organization of your spreadsheet. Whether you want to increase the size of a single cell or adjust the dimensions of multiple cells at once, Google Sheets offers several options to customize your spreadsheet to your liking.
Remember, you can import live business data from your company’s systems into Google Sheets with Coefficient.
Start using Coefficient today and discover its robust features and the benefits it offers to busy teams like yours.
To learn more about using Coefficient and other tips and tricks for Google Sheets, visit Crawlan.com.
