Resizing cells columns, or rows in Google Sheets is an essential part of formatting and organizing spreadsheet data. It helps you customize layouts, increase informational clarity or accommodate longer text or numbers.
How to resize a cell in Google Sheets
There are a few ways to adjust cells in Google Sheets. Here's how.
1. Navigate to your Google Sheet.
You can find any spreadsheet in your Google Drive. It might also be in your knowledge base software.
2. Hold down the column header
Click the column header and hold down.
3. Drag the cell
Drag to the right to make the column wider depending on your needs.
How to resize a row in Google Sheets
Here's how to make a row larger to to add additional text or adjust spreadsheet formatting.
1. Navigate to your Google Sheet.
You can find a sheet in Google Drive or your team's documentation maker.
2. Click the row divider
Go to the numberer row divider on the lefthand side of your sheet.
3. Drag the row
To adjust the row height, drag the row to your preferred length.
How to set exact row size in pixels
Adjust rows to a precise measurement with pixels. This works with a single row or by selecting multiple adjacent rows.
1. Navigate to your Google Sheet.
Open your spreadsheet in your SOP software or the Google Drive.
2. Select the row(s).
Highlight the row or rows you want to modify.
3. Select "Resize Row."
Right Click to view the menu then click"Resize row."
3. Select row height
Click the "pixels (Default: 21)" field and type in the height you want for your row.
4. Click "OK"
And now your adjust height will be applied to the rows you selected.
How to fit row height to contents
Adjust the row height in a spreadsheet based on the content within the row.
1. Go to your spreadsheet
Open the sheet from the Drive or your software documentation software.
2. Select the row
Select the row header and right click.
3. Select "Resize Row"
Scroll toward the bottom of the pop-up menu to where it says "Resize Row."
4. Click "Fit to Data"
This will adjust the size of the row based on the content.
5. Click "OK"
This will resize your rows as needed.
How to resize a column in Google Sheets.
Update a cell size by setting the width using pixels in Google Sheets.
1. Navigate to your Google Sheet.
Go to the sheet in your Google Drive or in your company's process documentation software.
2. Hold down the header
Click on the header of the column you want to resize.
3. Drag the column header
Drag to the right to make the column as wide as needed.
How to set column width in pixels
Here's how to use pixels to adjust your column to an exact size.
1. Open your Google Sheet
Start by opening or creating a new spreadsheet
2. Click the column header
Select the column header for the single column or columns you want to adjust.
3. Select the arrow icon
Click on the arrow to open up a drop-down menu.
4. Click "Resize Column"
This option is available halfway through the drop down.
5. Enter column width
Click the text field and enter the length you want for your column.
6. Click "OK"
After you've entered the width, click OK to confirm.
How to resize a column width to contents
Here's how to resize a column based on the content in the column.
1. Start by opening your spreadsheet
Find the spreadsheet in your drive or tools.
2. Select the arrow
Click the arrow in the column header.
3. Select "Resize Column"
Scroll halfway through the dropdown menu and click "Resize column." This will open up your size options.
4. Select "Fit to Data."
This will resize the column based on the content within the column.
5. Click "OK"
This will adjust the column width.
Like this guide? Check out these related resources
- Google Sheets 101: Google Sheets Tutorial — Everything You Need to Know to Be an Expert
- Free Tool: Google Sheets Training Generator
- Step-by-Step Guide: How to Lock a Row in Google Sheets
- Free Tool: Google Flowchart Generator
- Step-by-step Guide: How to Create a Drop Down in Google Sheets
Get more Google Sheets guides and make your own
Scribe has thousands of guides for Google Sheets, Excel and so much more. Sign up for a free account to save and share this guide with your team.
Scribe is an AI-powered process documentation tool that turns any workflow into a visual step-by-step guide — complete with text, links and annotated screenshots. Build guides for your colleagues and clients in seconds. All for free!