How to Insert an Image into a Cell with Excel VBA (2 Methods)

Written by Rifat Hassan

Last updated: Jan 16, 2024

In this article, I’ll show you how you can insert an image into a cell with Excel VBA.

Insert an Image into a Cell with Excel VBA (Quick View)

Sub Insert_Single_Image()

Image_Name = "Argentina"
Image_Location = "E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags"
Image_Format = ".png"

Cell_Reference = "C3"

Set Image = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Image_Location + "\" + Image_Name + Image_Format)

Image.Top = Range(Cell_Reference).Top
Image.Left = Range(Cell_Reference).Left
Image.ShapeRange.Height = 45
Image.ShapeRange.Width = 75

End Sub

How to Insert an Image into Cell with Excel VBA: Step-by-Step Analysis

Here we’ve got a data set with the names of some countries and some empty cells for their national flags.

Also, we have a folder on our computer in the location E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags where we have stored the images of the flags of all these countries.

Our objective today is to insert images from this folder into the respective cells of the worksheet.

1. Insert a Single Image into a Cell with Excel VBA

First of all, we’ll learn to insert a single image into a cell. We’ll insert the image of the flag of Argentina in cell C3 of the active worksheet.

I am showing you the step-by-step procedure to execute this.

⧪ Step 1: Inserting the Image Name, Image Location, Image Format, and the Cell Reference of the Image on the Worksheet

First of all, we’ve to enter the Image_Name (Argentina), Image_Location on the computer (E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags), Image Format (.png), and the Cell_Reference (C3) of the image on the worksheet in the code.

Image_Name = "Argentina"
Image_Location = "E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags"
Image_Format = ".png"

Cell_Reference = "C3"

⧪ Step 2: Declaring the Image

Then we have to declare the image.

Set Image = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Image_Location + "\" + Image_Name + Image_Format)

⧪ Step 3: Setting the Attributes of the Image

Finally, we’ll set the attributes of the image.

Image.Top = Range(Cell_Reference).Top
Image.Left = Range(Cell_Reference).Left
Image.ShapeRange.Height = 45
Image.ShapeRange.Width = 75

So, the complete VBA code will be:

⧭ VBA Code:

Sub Insert_Single_Image()

Image_Name = "Argentina"
Image_Location = "E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags"
Image_Format = ".png"

Cell_Reference = "C3"

Set Image = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Image_Location + "\" + Image_Name + Image_Format)

Image.Top = Range(Cell_Reference).Top
Image.Left = Range(Cell_Reference).Left
Image.ShapeRange.Height = 45
Image.ShapeRange.Width = 75

End Sub

⧭ Output:

Run the code (Don’t forget to change the Image_Name, Image_Location, Image_Format, and Cell_Reference of the image according to your need before running the code).

It’ll insert the image of the national flag of Argentina in cell C3 of the active worksheet.

2. Insert a Series of Images into a Range of Cells with Excel VBA

We’ve learned to enter a single image into a cell. This time we’ll learn to enter a series of images into a range of cells with Excel VBA.

Let’s enter the flags of the countries mentioned in the range B3:B8 into the range C3:C8.

I’m showing you the step-by-step procedure to accomplish this.

⧪ Step 1: Inserting the Image Names, Image Location, Image Format, and the Cell References of the Images on the Worksheet

First of all, we have to enter the Image_Names (Range B3:B8 on the worksheet), the Image_Location, Image_Format, and the Cell_References of the images on the worksheet (Range C3:C8).

Set Image_Names = Range("B3:B8")
Image_Location = "E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags"
Image_Format = ".png"

Set Cell_Reference = Range("C3:C8")

⧪ Step 2: Iterating through a For-Loop to Declare and Set Attributes of the Images

Next, we’ll iterate through a For-loop to declare the image and set the attributes of the image.

For i = 1 To Image_Names.Rows.Count
    For j = 1 To Image_Names.Columns.Count
        Set Image = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Image_Location + "\" + Image_Names.Cells(i, j) + Image_Format)
        Image.Top = Cell_Reference.Cells(i, j).Top
        Image.Left = Cell_Reference.Cells(i, j).Left
        Image.ShapeRange.Height = 45
        Image.ShapeRange.Width = 75
    Next j
Next i

Therefore, the complete VBA code will be:

⧭ VBA Code:

Sub Insert_Multiple_Images()

Set Image_Names = Range("B3:B8")
Image_Location = "E:\ExcelDemy\National Flags"
Image_Format = ".png"

Set Cell_Reference = Range("C3:C8")

For i = 1 To Image_Names.Rows.Count
    For j = 1 To Image_Names.Columns.Count
        Set Image = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Image_Location + "\" + Image_Names.Cells(i, j) + Image_Format)
        Image.Top = Cell_Reference.Cells(i, j).Top
        Image.Left = Cell_Reference.Cells(i, j).Left
        Image.ShapeRange.Height = 45
        Image.ShapeRange.Width = 75
    Next j
Next i

End Sub

⧭ Output:

Run the code (Again don’t forget to change the Image_Names, Image_Location, Image_Format, and Cell References of the images according to your need before running the code).

It’ll insert the images of the national flags of all the countries mentioned in the range B3:B8 into the range C3:C8 of the active worksheet.

Things to Remember

While working with VBA in Excel, you needn’t save any file to run a VBA code. You can see the output of any code without saving the file. But in case you want to save the file for future use, you must save the file as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm).

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.

Insert Image into Cell.xlsm

Conclusion

So, these are the ways to insert an image into a cell with VBA in Excel. Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask us. Keep learning new tricks in Excel!

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

Sub InsertStamp() Dim fNameAndPath As Variant Dim img As Picture Dim ws As Worksheet Dim Location As Range fNameAndPath = Application.GetOpenFilename(Title:="Select Picture To Be Imported") If fNameAndPath = False Then Exit Sub Set Location = Application.InputBox("Please select the stamp location", "Insert Stamp", "Enter the cell HERE", Type:=8) 'If Location = "Enter the cell HERE" Or Location = "" Then 'Exit Sub 'End If For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets ws.Select Set img = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(fNameAndPath) With img 'Resize Picture to fit in the range…. .Left = Location.Left .Top = Location.Top .ShapeRange.IncrementLeft -20.25 .ShapeRange.IncrementTop -9.75 .Placement = 1 .Name = "Stamp" .PrintObject = True End With Next ws End Sub

6 Comments

Jan (Yan) Woellhaf Sep 7, 2022 at 4:03 AM

When I use one of these methods to supposedly insert an image into a cell, it seems what is actually done is to position the image over the cell. It is not actually _in_ the cell. Thus, when the sheet is sorted, the image does not move as it would if the image were actually imbedded in the cell. Like a fill color would move with the cell, for example.
- Reply
  Sabrina Ayon Sep 13, 2022 at 9:27 AM
  
  Hello, JAN (YAN) WOELLHAF!
  If those code does not work for you, try this one! Hope this will help you.
  
  Sub InsertPic()
  Dim path As String, photo As Picture, cell As Range
  path = “E:\test” & Range(“C3”).Value & “.png”
  Set cell = ActiveCell.MergeArea
  Set photo = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(PicPath)
  With photo
  .ShapeRange.LockAspectRatio = msoFalse
  .Left = ImageCell.Left
  .Top = ImageCell.Top
  .Width = ImageCell.Width
  .Height = ImageCell.Height
  End With
  End Sub
Mahmoud Jan 8, 2024 at 6:06 PM

Can anyone advise why this code is not working?

Sub InsertStamp()
Dim fNameAndPath As Variant
Dim img As Picture
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim Location As String

fNameAndPath = Application.GetOpenFilename(Title:=”Select Picture To Be Imported”)
If fNameAndPath = False Then Exit Sub

Location = Application.InputBox(“Please select the stamp location”, “Insert Stamp”, “Enter the cell HERE”, , , , , 8)
If Location = “Enter the cell HERE” Or Location = “” Then
Exit Sub
End If

For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
ws.Select
Set img = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(fNameAndPath)
With img
‘Resize Picture to fit in the range….
.Left = ActiveSheet.Range(Location).Left
.Top = ActiveSheet.Range(Location).Top
.ShapeRange.IncrementLeft -20.25
.ShapeRange.IncrementTop -9.75
.Placement = 1
.Name = “Stamp”
.PrintObject = True

End With
Next ws

End Sub
- Reply
  Abrar-ur-Rahman Niloy Jan 16, 2024 at 4:11 PM
  Hello Mahmoud,
  
  Looks like there were several inconsistencies in your code. This is the modified version of your code:
```
Sub InsertStamp()
Dim fNameAndPath As Variant
Dim img As Picture
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim Location As Range

fNameAndPath = Application.GetOpenFilename(Title:="Select Picture To Be Imported")
If fNameAndPath = False Then Exit Sub

Set Location = Application.InputBox("Please select the stamp location", "Insert Stamp", "Enter the cell HERE", Type:=8)
'If Location = "Enter the cell HERE" Or Location = "" Then
'Exit Sub
'End If

For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
ws.Select
Set img = ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(fNameAndPath)
With img
'Resize Picture to fit in the range….
.Left = Location.Left
.Top = Location.Top
.ShapeRange.IncrementLeft -20.25
.ShapeRange.IncrementTop -9.75
.Placement = 1
.Name = "Stamp"
.PrintObject = True

End With
Next ws

End Sub
```
  Try out this one. It should work fine.
laura Jan 11, 2024 at 2:53 PM

Thank you, very useful and clearly explained! I’m writing to you because I don’t know how to save the file to send it via email while maintaining the images inserted via VBA. Can you help me? Thank you
- Reply
  Bishawajit Chakraborty Jan 16, 2024 at 11:43 AM
  Hello Laura,
  
  To save the file with the inserted images and send it via email, you can follow these steps:
  
  Save the Workbook:
  1. Click the Save button or press Ctrl+S to save the workbook.
  2. Click NO.
  3. Select the file type as “Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm)”.
  4. Click on the Save option.
  Attach the Workbook to Email:
  - Open your email client (such as Outlook, Gmail, etc.).
  - Compose a new email.
  - Look for an option like “Attach” or “Attach File” in your email client.
  - Navigate to the location where you saved your workbook and select it.
  Send the Email:
  - Complete the email by adding the recipient’s email address, subject, and any additional message you want to include.
  - Finally, click the “Send” button to send the email.By following these steps, you will send the Excel workbook with the inserted images via email. The recipient will be able to open the workbook and view the images as long as they enable macros when prompted (since the workbook contains VBA code).
  If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to ask!