Sagufta Tarannum
Because of the dense data and complicated structure, Excel worksheets can be difficult to read at times. Inserting the border throughout a dataset can help us differentiate between parts and focus on specific data. Moreover, it makes the worksheet more representable. In Excel, a border is a line that surrounds a cell or a group of cells. There are several ways to insert the border in Excel. In this article, we are going to learn 5 simple ways with examples and explanations to insert the border in Excel.
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5 Simple Methods to Insert Border in Excel
Here, we have used a dataset (B4:E8) in excel. It contains the Item Names, Orders and lastly the summation of the Orders. Let’s say, we need to insert the border around the dataset. Now, we are going to use the 5 easiest ways to do so. So without further delay, let’s get started.
1. Insert Border Using Excel Ribbon
In this method, we are going to use Excel Ribbon to add the border around the above dataset. This is the quickest way to create the border in Excel because here we use one of the built-in options from the Ribbon. The steps for this method are below.
Steps:
- First, select the dataset (B4:E8) where we want to insert a border.
- Secondly, go to the Home tab.
- Thirdly, click on the Border drop-down menu in the Font group.
- Now, select any of the border options as per your wish from the dropdown. For example, we selected the All Borders option.
- Finally, we can see in the picture below that we have successfully added borders around the dataset.
Remove Borders
However, if we want to remove borders from the dataset, we need to follow the steps below.
Steps:
- In the beginning, select the dataset (B4:E8) from where we want to remove the border.
- Next, go to the Home tab.
- After that, click on the Border drop-down menu.
- At this time, select No Border from the drop-down.
- In the end, we can see that we have removed the border successfully from the dataset.
2. Apply Format Cells Dialog to Create Border
The Format Cells dialog is the most efficient way to add borders in Excel. It provides quick access to all settings, such as line color and thickness, as well as a nice diagram preview. The steps to create a border using Format Cells Dialog are below.
Steps:
- First of all, select the dataset (B4:E8) where you need to create a border.
- Then, go to the Home tab.
- Now, click on the Font Settings from the Font group.
- In turn, a Format Cells dialog box will pop up.
- Here, go to the Border tab.
- After that, choose the line style and color from the Style and Color option successively.
- Next, in the Borders section, choose a Preset option or apply borders individually.
- Finally, click OK.
- At last, we can see the border around the dataset which we selected.
Read More: How to Add or Remove Cell Borders in Excel
3. Use Shortcuts to Add Excel Border
Excel provides a couple of keyboard shortcuts for quickly inserting and removing cell borders. Here we are going to introduce shortcut keys for two methods, one is for Outside Border and the other one is for Format Cells Dialog. The steps for using shortcuts to add Excel borders for these two methods are discussed below.
3.1 Shortcuts for Outside Border
We can use shortcuts to add an outside border in a dataset in Excel. The steps to do so are below:
- In the beginning, select the dataset (B4:E8).
- Then, type the shortcut keys: Ctrl + Shift + &.
- Finally, we can see an outside border around the dataset.
3.2 Format Cells Dialog Shortcuts
By following the steps below, we can insert the border in Excel using Format Cells Dialog Shortcuts.
Steps:
- First, we need to select the dataset (B4:E8).
- Next, go to the Home tab.
- Then, click on the Font Settings option in the Font group.
- In turn, a Format Cells dialog box will appear.
- Now go to the Border tab and type one of the shortcut keys below:
- For Left Border, type: Alt + L
- For Right Border, type: Alt + R
- For Top Border, type: Alt + T
- For Bottom Border, type: Alt + B
- For Upward diagonal, type: Alt + D
- For Horizontal interior, type: Alt + H
- For Vertical interior, type: Alt + V
- In our case, we typed Alt + L for Left Border.
- Finally, click OK.
- In the end, we can see a left border in our dataset.
Read More: How to Add Cell Borders Inside and Outside in Excel (5 Methods)
4. Draw Border in Excel
We can draw borders directly on the worksheet rather than selecting cells first and then selecting from a set of built-in options. For drawing the border in Excel, we need to follow the steps below.
Steps:
- First, go to the Home tab.
- Secondly, click on the Border drop-down menu.
- Next, select Draw Border from the Draw Borders Draw Border allows drawing a border along any gridline, which is useful when creating irregular borders.
- Then, Excel switches to the Draw Border mode automatically, and the cursor becomes a pencil. After that, you can begin drawing individual lines.
- Now, when we drag across a cell, it will create a regular rectangular border surrounding a range.
- Finally, by following the above steps, we can draw borders throughout our dataset.
5. Make Custom Border Style
In this method, we can make the border style of our own choice. To do so, we need to abide by the steps below.
Steps:
- In the first place, go to the Home tab.
- Then, select Cell Styles from the Styles group.
- After that, click on New Cell Style from the drop-down menu.
- In turn, a window naming Style will pop up.
- Next, type a border style name of your own choice in the Style name box.
- At this moment, click on Format.
- At this time, the Format Cells dialog box will open and we need to go to the Border tab.
- Then, select any line style from the Line group and any color from the Color group.
- Now, select any border option from the Border group.
- In the end, click the OK button.
- Again, go to the Style window and remove any formatting that you do not want to include in the new style by unchecking the boxes.
- At last, click the OK button.
Now, simply do the following steps to apply your custom border style.
Steps:
- In the beginning, select the cells where you want to apply a border.
- Secondly, go to the Home tab.
- Thirdly, click on Cell Styles in the Styles group.
- Now, a drop-down menu will appear and select the custom border style from the Custom Usually it is placed on the top of the drop-down menu.
- Finally, we can see that the Custom border style is applied properly in the dataset.
Read More: How to Change Border Color in Excel (3 Suitable Ways)
Conclusion
I hope the above methods will be helpful for you to insert the border in Excel. Download the practice workbook and give it a try. Let us know your feedback in the comment section. Follow our website ExcelDemy to get more articles like this.
