[Fixed] AutoFit Row Height Not Working for Merged Cells in Excel (2 Suitable Solutions)

Written by Mrinmoy Roy

Last updated: Feb 12, 2024

In general, the AutoFit Row Height and the AutoFit Column Width commands automatically fit all the cell contents in an Excel worksheet. But if your Excel worksheet contains any merged cell, then the AutoFit Row Height and the AutoFit Column Width will not work there. You have to manually fit the cell contents in that case. If you have to deal with a lot of merged cells, manually fitting each of the cell’s contents can be quite daunting. But in this article, you will get solutions for dealing with AutoFit Row Height now working for merged cells in Excel.

How to Fix If AutoFit Row Height Is Not Working for Merged Cells in Excel: 2 Suitable Solutions

1. Use an Updated Version of MS Excel (2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365 Versions)

To demonstrate the AutoFit Row Height command not working against the merged cells in Excel, I am going to use the following dataset of the Product Price List.

In the following dataset, the Product column has several contents in the merged cells.

Now, to apply the AutoFit Row Height command,

❶ Select the entire dataset.

❷ Go to the Home ribbon.

❸ Under the Cells group, you will find the Format option. Click on it.

❹ Then, from the drop-down menu, choose AutoFit Row Height.

After applying the AutoFit Row Height command, you will see that all the cells have fitted except the merged cells.

📓 Note

The AutoFit Row Height command doesn’t work against the merged cells in Excel 2003 and 2007. However, this command perfectly works in Microsoft Office 365, and other updated versions.

So, we recommend using updated versions of MS Excel to avoid such issues.

Read More: How to AutoFit in Excel

2. Visual Basic Script to Solve AutoFit Row Height Not Working against the Merged Cells in Excel

In the following dataset, under the Product column, the cells are all merged. Applying the AutoFit Row Height command doesn’t work here. Thus, we need a VBA script to handle this problem.

In this regard,

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Then go to Insert > Module. This will create a new module.

❸ After that, copy the following VBA code:

Option Explicit
Public Sub FitTheMergedCells()
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B5:C6"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B7:C8"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B9:C11"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B12:C12"))
End Sub
Public Sub MergedCellsAutoFit(gg As Range)
Dim aa As Integer
Dim bb As Integer
Dim cc As Single
Dim dd As Single
Dim ee As Single
Dim ff As Single
With Sheets("Sheet1")
cc = 0
For bb = 1 To gg.Columns.Count
cc = cc + .Cells(1, gg.Column + bb - 1).ColumnWidth
Next bb
cc = .Cells(1, gg.Column).ColumnWidth + .Cells(1, gg.Column + 1).ColumnWidth
gg.MergeCells = False
ee = Len(.Cells(gg.Row, gg.Column).Value)
dd = .Range("ZZ1").ColumnWidth
.Range("ZZ1") = Left(.Cells(gg.Row, gg.Column).Value, ee)
.Range("ZZ1").WrapText = True
.Columns("ZZ").ColumnWidth = cc
.Rows("1").EntireRow.AutoFit
ff = .Rows("1").RowHeight / gg.Rows.Count
.Rows(CStr(gg.Row) & ":" & CStr(gg.Row + gg.Rows.Count - 1)).RowHeight = ff
gg.MergeCells = True
gg.WrapText = True
.Range("ZZ1").ClearContents
.Range("ZZ1").ColumnWidth = dd
End With
End Sub

❹ Now come back to the VBA editor and press CTRL + V to paste the code.

❺ Call the functions to fix each of the merged cells. Each time insert the cell range of the merged cells like the following:

Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B5:C6"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B7:C8"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B9:C11"))
Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range("B12:C12"))

❻ Insert your worksheet name here:

With Sheets("Sheet1")

❼ Press CTRL + S to save the code.

❽ To run the code, press the F5 key or hit the Run Sub button.

Then the Macros dialog box will appear.

❾ Hit the Run button to execute the code.

After following all the steps, you will see the merged cells are not auto-fitted with their corresponding cell contents instantly as in the picture below:

Things to Remember

Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.
To run the VBA code, press the F5 button.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the Excel file from the following link and practice along with it.

AutoFit Row Height Not Working for Merged Cells.xlsm

Conclusion

To sum up, we have discussed solutions to tackle the AutoFit row height not working against the merged cells in Excel. You are recommended to download the practice workbook attached along with this article and practice all the methods with that. And don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section below. We will try to respond to all the relevant queries.

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6 Comments

Goktug Aug 12, 2022 at 6:10 PM

I use Microsoft Office 2019 and autofit row height preferences is not working for merged cells. There is any suggestion on this issue?
- Reply
  Nehad Ulfat Aug 14, 2022 at 12:44 PM
  
  Hello, GOKTUG! All of our contents were prepared based on Excel 365 version only. So, I recommend using the Excel 365 version instead of 2019. Hopefully it should fix your issues!
Gunes Sep 1, 2022 at 6:13 AM

Hi All,

How can I apply this as a loop to all worksheets in a file (100 tabs). The “With Sheets(“Sheet1″)” in this case will be applicable to all sheet names. Thank you in advance.
- Reply
  Naimul Hasan Arif Sep 4, 2022 at 1:01 PM
  
  Use of “for loop” function is a very simple approach for this purpose. You can use the following code to merged the defined cells to 100 tabs. Based on your sheets, you just need to change the value of “i” in the code.
  
  Option Explicit
  Public Sub FitTheMergedCells()
  Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range(“B5:C6”))
  Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range(“B7:C8”))
  Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range(“B9:C11”))
  Call MergedCellsAutoFit(Range(“B12:C12”))
  End Sub
  Public Sub MergedCellsAutoFit(gg As Range)
  Dim aa As Integer
  Dim bb As Integer
  Dim cc As Single
  Dim dd As Single
  Dim ee As Single
  Dim ff As Single
  Dim i As Integer
  For i = 1 To 100
  With Sheets(“Sheet” & i)
  cc = 0
  For bb = 1 To gg.Columns.Count
  cc = cc + .Cells(1, gg.Column + bb – 1).ColumnWidth
  Next bb
  cc = .Cells(1, gg.Column).ColumnWidth + .Cells(1, gg.Column + 1).ColumnWidth
  gg.MergeCells = False
  ee = Len(.Cells(gg.Row, gg.Column).Value)
  dd = .Range(“ZZ1”).ColumnWidth
  .Range(“ZZ1”) = Left(.Cells(gg.Row, gg.Column).Value, ee)
  .Range(“ZZ1”).WrapText = True
  .Columns(“ZZ”).ColumnWidth = cc
  .Rows(“1”).EntireRow.AutoFit
  ff = .Rows(“1”).RowHeight / gg.Rows.Count
  .Rows(CStr(gg.Row) & “:” & CStr(gg.Row + gg.Rows.Count – 1)).RowHeight = ff
  gg.MergeCells = True
  gg.WrapText = True
  .Range(“ZZ1”).ClearContents
  .Range(“ZZ1”).ColumnWidth = dd
  End With
  Next i
  End Sub
Sr Diablo Oct 29, 2022 at 9:45 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for the provided VBA code. I have a question about the purpose of the line

cc = .Cells(1, gg.Column).ColumnWidth + .Cells(1, gg.Column + 1).ColumnWidth

It seems that it overcomes the previous value of cc calculated on the loop that goes through all the columns of the merged range.

The result, as a consecuence, may not be into the desired adjustement of the merged range.

Please, consider explaining the purpose of the line. Maybe is it a mistake?

Thanks in advance
- Reply
  Sabrina Ayon Oct 31, 2022 at 1:16 PM
  Thanks, SR DIABLO!
  Thanks for your comment!
  Yes, you are right! Actually, the purpose of this line is the same as the loop. You can either use this block of code.
```
For bb = 1 To gg.Columns.Count
    cc = cc + .Cells(1, gg.Column + bb - 1).ColumnWidth
Next bb
```
  Alternatively, you can use this line instead of using the loop.
```
cc = .Cells(1, gg.Column).ColumnWidth + .Cells(1, gg.Column + 1).ColumnWidth
```
  You can skip the line or comment on the line using an apostrophe in front of the line you wish to turn into non-executable code. It’s actually not a mistake. The code will work properly if you do not remove it! But I suggest you use any one of those.
  
  Good Luck!
  
  Regards,
  Sabrina Ayon
  Author, ExcelDemy.