Key Takeaway:
- Applying borders to cells using keyboard shortcuts can save time and increase efficiency in Excel. Shortcut 1, Applying Borders to Cells, can be achieved by selecting the cells and pressing the “Ctrl+Shift+&” keys simultaneously.
- Shortcut 7, Creating Custom Border Styles, allows users to create and save customized border styles for future use. Utilizing this shortcut can aid in creating a consistent and professional design across multiple Excel documents.
- Shortcut 15, Applying Borders to Multiple Ranges at Once, enables users to apply borders to multiple cell ranges with a single command. This is useful for large data sets and reduces the need for repetitive formatting tasks.
Struggling with Microsoft Excel formatting? You’re not alone! Knowing basic and advanced shortcuts to surround your data with great-looking borders can save you time and ensure your data is presented in the best way possible. Unlock the power of Excel and make your data stand out with these 15 shortcuts!
15 Excel Shortcuts for Borders You Need to Know
Excel borders are an art form – master them with these 15 time-saving shortcuts! Discover how to apply, remove and customize borders. Plus, learn how to create custom border styles, apply thick and thin border styles and more! Get started with these useful Excel shortcuts to boost your productivity.
Shortcut 1: Applying Borders to Cells
To quickly apply borders to cells, here’s a convenient way for you.
- Select the cells or range where you want to create borders.
- Press “Ctrl+1” to open the Format Cells window.
- Go to the border tab in the Format Cells window.
- In the Line Style section, select your desired border style (thin, medium, thick) and pick your color with an appropriate line width.
- Just click on the edges of each cell where you want borders or click inside every cell if you want complete borders inside every cell.
- The displayed preview will show how it will look on your Excel sheet.
One extra tip is that this shortcut supports multiple border highlighting and customization features. It allows creating different styles on every side of a single cell by selecting each side individually.
For an improved appearance of your data tables, use light colors when applying borders as it makes reading data easier. Also, ensure non-conflicting color contrasts within adjacent cells so that boundaries are visible from each other.
Strip those pesky borders away with just a shortcut, because who needs boundaries when you have Excel?
Shortcut 2: Clearing Borders from Cells
To remove or erase the borders from cells, use a quick and effortless keyboard shortcut. Here’s how you can clear cell border using Excel shortcuts:
- Select the cells from which you want to clear borders
- Press Ctrl + Shift + underscore (_) key together.
- You may find all your cell borders in bold and yet may not see any borders on the sheet. It happens because Excel doesn’t display them until a new format is applied.
- To confirm if it has cleared the borders, go to the Format Cells option by pressing Ctrl + 1.
- Under the Border tab, select “No Border“.
- Then click OK button to save changes.
It’s an easy process to clear borders for specific cells altogether. This method saves time while making necessary changes on a document.
Pro Tip: Always remember that this shortcut only clears borders of selected cells and doesn’t delete data. You can use it safely without losing any important information in your spreadsheet.
Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover? In Excel, just change the border colors and watch your data go from drab to fab.
Shortcut 3: Changing Border Colors
To modify the colors of borders, use these Excel shortcuts.
- Select the cells where you want to apply the border color.
- Use the shortcut keys “Alt + H + B” to open the ‘Borders’ dialog box.
- Click on the down arrow next to ‘Color‘ and select a new color.
- Choose from existing colors or click on ‘More Colors‘ to choose from a wide range of shades.
- Press Enter to apply your selection.
It’s worth noting that changing border colors may enhance your spreadsheet’s visual appeal while maintaining data integrity.
For an added visual element, you can further customize these cell borders with styles and patterns by using Excel’s built-in formatting tools.
Once, my colleague had a crucial presentation, but all his Excel tables looked dull and unappealing. He tried several formatting options, but nothing seemed to work until he discovered how altering border colors gave his tables new life and highlighted essential information. From then on, he used this trick regularly in reports and presentations, which always stood out among others’.
Copy and paste may be basic, but Excel shortcuts for copying borders are where the real efficiency lies.
Shortcut 4: Copying Borders to Nearby Cells
Copying borders to nearby cells is a convenient and time-saving Excel feature. It allows users to duplicate the border style of one cell with a few quick clicks. The following simple guide will explain how to utilize this useful tool.
- Select the cell with your desired border style.
- Copy the cell by pressing Ctrl + C.
- Highlight the neighboring cells where you want to replicate the border.
- Hover over the “Paste” drop-down menu and select “Paste Special…”
- In the pop-up window, select “Formats” and press “OK.”
- The border style is now applied to all selected cells.
For an efficient Excel workflow, mastering shortcuts can boost productivity. Shortcut 4 enables easy formatting with precise copying and pasting options that lead to less manual effort.
Users can customize their tables easily by replicating desired formatting with this helpful shortcut, which saves time in manual border creation across each cell individually.
Excel users who work on extensive data sheets know that keyboard shortcuts speed up tasks significantly; using them efficiently leads to increased Excel proficiency over time. Say goodbye to cell borders faster than your ex saying goodbye to commitment with Shortcut 5.
Shortcut 5: Removing Border Lines from Selected Cells
Removing border lines can be done with a click! Simply select the cells you want to remove the border lines from and follow these easy steps:
- Press and hold down ‘Ctrl’ key on your keyboard
- Press the letter ‘1’
- Click on the ‘Border’ tab at the top of the window that pops up
- Select ‘None’
- Click on ‘OK’
- Borders are now removed from your selected cells!
It’s as simple as that! No need to waste time manually removing each line. This is just one of the many useful Excel shortcuts for borders that can save you precious time.
Did you know that removing all border lines can also be done in just one step? Simply double click on any cell in your worksheet, and all border lines will be removed!
Excel shortcuts have been around for decades, helping users speed up their tasks, and increasing efficiency. The removal of border lines is just one example of how these shortcuts can help users in their daily tasks.
I never knew I needed to dress up my cells until I discovered shortcut 6 – adding borders has never been so chic.
Shortcut 6: Adding Borders to a Range of Cells
When working on Excel spreadsheets, adding borders to a range of cells can help improve its readability and organization. Here’s how you can do it with ease:
- Select the range of cells where you want to add borders.
- Press and hold the ‘Ctrl’ key on your keyboard
- While holding the ‘Ctrl’ key, press the number ‘1’
- In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the ‘Border’ tab to customize your border options including line style, color and thickness. Click OK once done.
It’s that simple! With just four steps you can easily add borders to a range of cells in no time.
For additional customization options, you can also go ahead and choose from various styles like dotted, dashed or double lines that will best suit your needs. Remember that aside from improving aesthetics, adding borders can also help ensure accurate data entry.
Pro Tip: Use this shortcut to format a large amount of data such as databases or balance sheets with improved legibility and structure.
Unleash your inner artist with Shortcut 7 – Creating Custom Border Styles in Excel. Who said spreadsheets can’t be masterpieces?
Shortcut 7: Creating Custom Border Styles
Creating Personalized Border Styles on Excel
Customizing border styles in Excel can enhance the visual appeal of your spreadsheet while keeping it well-organized and easy to read. Follow these four simple steps to create your personalized borders.
- Select the cells or worksheet that you want to apply a custom border style.
- Open the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box by hitting Ctrl+1 or by right-clicking on the cells and selecting ‘Format Cells’.
- In the Format Cells window, navigate to the Border tab and select ‘More Borders.’
- The Borders window will allow you to choose from various line styles, colors, and weighted styles for each of your preferred border selections in different sections of your spreadsheet.
A key detail to note is that once you have customized a unique combination of border styles in Excel, you can save it as a new preset for future use. The ‘Save As Preset’ option will be visible in the ‘Border Style’ dropdown menu — this option enables you to maintain consistency across multiple sheets and workbooks without repeatedly creating custom borders.
Additionally, we recommend using minimalistic border styles with muted colors for optimum clarity. Applying overly complex or colorful border patterns could obscure readability and make important details hard to interpret. Therefore, customize only when necessary rather than over-utilizing specific styles just because they are available to use. Thick or thin, it’s all about style when it comes to Excel borders. Shortcut 8 has got you covered.
Shortcut 8: Applying Thick or Thin Border Styles
One of the most useful shortcuts in Excel involves applying different border styles to cell ranges. With this shortcut, you can easily add thick or thin borders with just a few clicks.
Here is a step-by-step guide for using this shortcut:
- Select the cell range to which you want to apply the border style.
- Press the
'Ctrl'
and'1'
keys simultaneously to open the ‘Format Cells’ dialogue box. - Click on the ‘Border’ tab in the dialogue box.
- Select your preferred border style from the list of options.
- To apply a thick border, click on the ‘Thick Box Border’ option. To apply a thin border, select a thin border style from the list of options.
- Click ‘OK’ to save your changes and close the dialogue box.
One thing to note is that you can also use this shortcut to remove borders by selecting the ‘No Border’ option instead.
In addition, you can also use this shortcut for more complex border configurations such as double borders or custom styles. Just select the appropriate options from within the “border” tab during step 4.
A real world example of where this might come in handy is when creating tables or charts for presentations or reports. Adding a consistent border style throughout helps make these documents look more professional, and using this Excel shortcut makes it easy to achieve that consistency quickly and efficiently.
Who needs a ruler when you can create border lines with just a few keyboard shortcuts? Excel, making rulers obsolete since forever.
Shortcut 9: Creating Border Lines with Keyboard Shortcuts
To add border lines in Excel quickly, here is a useful keyboard shortcut that can help. This technique is known as ‘Excel Border Shortcut Using Keyboard’.
Here are the steps to use Excel Border Shortcut using Keyboard:
- 1. select the cells where you want to create the borders.
- 2. Press ‘Ctrl + Shift + &’ to draw outline borders and
- Lastl
y, Press ‘Ctrl + Shift + _’ to draw inside borders.
This quick keyboard shortcut will allow you to create border lines within seconds and save time when formatting your spreadsheet.
One vital point to note is that this technique only allows you to format continuous data ranges. Do not use this shortcut when working with non-continuous sets of data such as blank rows between your selection.
Make sure you grab hold of this quick tip for optimizing and speeding up your workflow!
Don’t let slow formatting stop your productivity; Grab these Keyboard Shortcuts today and make the most out of Excel’s capabilities!
Give your cells some edge by applying borders to specific edges with this handy shortcut, because even boring Excel sheets deserve a little excitement.
Shortcut 10: Applying Borders to Specific Edges of Cells
To apply borders to specific edges of cells in Excel, use a shortcut that saves time and effort. This feature is crucial when you require a distinct look for your spreadsheets. Here’s how to do it:
- Select the cell(s) you want to apply borders to
- Press Ctrl+SHIFT+7 (or Ctrl+”+”) or choose “Borders” under the “Home” tab
- Select any border presets such as “Outline”, “Inside” or specific edges like top or left and click OK.
Another practical way is by holding down the ALT key and clicking on the preferred edge of your cell. Doing so will emphasize that specific border without affecting others. You are now one step away from neatly customizing your border designs.
Pro Tip: Use these shortcuts along with other useful formatting tips to make your Excel worksheets look organized and professional. Don’t let your borders constrain you, remove them from specific edges with ease in Excel!
Shortcut 11: Removing Borders from Specific Edges of Cells
If you wish to remove borders selectively from your cells, here is a shortcut you need to know.
- Select the cells from which you want to remove specific borders.
- Go to the Home tab and click on the Borders icon in the Font group.
- In the dropdown menu, choose the border style that you want to remove, hover over it and then select “No Border” from submenu.
This way, your specified borders will no longer be visible on your selected cells.
It’s important to note that you can only remove one border at a time using this shortcut. So, if you wish to remove multiple border edges at once, hold down the Ctrl key and select them individually before selecting “No Border” for each of them.
Don’t miss out on improving your Excel skills by not knowing this useful trick. Start removing specific cell borders with ease!
Border patrol just got easier with Shortcut 12 – Applying All Borders to a Cell or Range of Cells.
Shortcut 12: Applying All Borders to a Cell or Range of Cells
Applying borders to your Excel sheet can take up a lot of time if done manually. However, there’s a simple and quick way to apply all borders to a cell or range of cells in Excel using a specific shortcut.
Here’s a 3-step guide on using this shortcut to apply all borders to a cell or range of cells in Excel:
- First, select the cell or range of cells to which you want to add borders.
- Press the “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “|” keys together on your keyboard
- The selected cells will now have all borders applied.
It’s that simple! By using this shortcut, you can quickly apply all borders without the need for manual formatting.
In addition, this shortcut also works when you want to remove all borders from a cell or range of cells at once. Simply follow the same steps, and all the borders will be removed instantly.
In my previous job as an analyst, I was required to create numerous reports in Excel daily. Applying and removing borders was a constant task that had to be done accurately and quickly. Thankfully, I discovered this excellent shortcut that saved me both time and effort every day.
Duplicate borders like a pro with this shortcut – because nothing says ‘I know Excel’ like consistent cell borders.
Shortcut 13: Duplicating Borders
Duplicate Excel Borderlines with Ease
To duplicate borderlines in Excel, you can use a useful shortcut. By doing so, you will save time and effort while ensuring consistency throughout your worksheet borders.
Here are the 4 short steps to Duplicate Borders in Excel:
- Open Microsoft Excel and select the cell ranges containing the borders that you want to copy.
- Press CTRL+C on your keyboard to copy these cells.
- Navigate to the target cell range where you want to apply the copied border lines.
- Finally, press ALT+E followed by B+I to paste it.
You have now applied the duplicated borders consistently and with ease!
Adding further, it’s important to note that using this trick can save a significant amount of time which otherwise would be wasted if you had done it manually for each cell.
Fun fact – The feature of duplicating borders in Excel was initially introduced in version 4.0 of Excel as one of its much-requested features!
Add some pattern to your monotonous spreadsheets by applying borders to every other row or column, and make your data feel like it’s attending a fancy ball.
Shortcut 14: Applying Borders to Every Other Row or Column
Applying Alternate Row or Column Borders in Excel
In Excel, knowing how to apply alternate row or column borders is vital for highlighting data. You can quickly differentiate between every other row or column with a single shortcut.
Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 |
Data 4 | Data 5 | Data 6 |
Data 7 | Data 8 | Data 9 |
Excel Shortcut: ALT H B A
You can see in the example that Data1, Data3, and Data5 have borders applied, highlighting rows. Apply this method to columns by changing the shortcut sequence as ALT H B C
.
Do not miss out on this Excel feature that will impress your colleagues! Use the above shortcuts to apply alternate row or column borders efficiently. Save time and tame your borders with Excel’s magical multi-range border shortcut.
Shortcut 15: Applying Borders to Multiple Ranges at Once
Applying Borders to Multiple Ranges at Once can save you significant time and effort while working on Excel. This feature allows you to apply borders to multiple cells or ranges simultaneously.
Here’s a guide to using this function:
- Select the cells or range of cells where you want the border to be applied.
- Hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key and select additional ranges where you want the same border applied.
- Use any of the shortcut keys for applying borders, such as ‘Ctrl + Shift + |’ for applying vertical borders or ‘Ctrl + Shift + _’ for applying horizontal borders.
Remember that this shortcut is only applicable when you want identical borders in multiple locations. It cannot be used if you need different types of formatting in different ranges.
Did you know that this shortcut also works with conditional formatting? If your multiple ranges have similar conditions, it may be helpful to apply border rules using this method.
Don’t miss out on saving time and streamlining your Excel workflow by incorporating this handy technique.
Five Facts About “15 Excel Shortcuts for Borders You Need to Know”:
- ✅ Borders can be added around cells with just one keyboard shortcut. (Source: Exceldemy)
- ✅ With a single shortcut, you can remove all the borders from a selected range of cells in Excel. (Source: Excel Campus)
- ✅ Borders can be customized with different line styles, colors, and thicknesses to make your data stand out. (Source: Spreadsheeto)
- ✅ Border shortcuts can be used to merge cells and transform data into tables. (Source: Ablebits)
- ✅ Learning Excel border shortcuts can save time and make your spreadsheets look more professional. (Source: Udemy)
FAQs about 15 Excel Shortcuts For Borders You Need To Know
What are the 15 Excel Shortcuts for Borders You Need to Know?
The 15 Excel Shortcuts for Borders You Need to Know are:
- Alt + H, B, A: Apply All Borders
- Alt + H, B, B: Apply Bottom Border
- Alt + H, B, L: Apply Left Border
- Alt + H, B, R: Apply Right Border
- Alt + H, B, T: Apply Top Border
- Alt + H, B, U: Apply Thick Bottom Border
- Alt + H, B, D: Apply Double Bottom Border
- Alt + H, B, E: Apply All Borders with Medium Line Style
- Alt + H, B, H: Apply All Borders with Thick Line Style
- Alt + H, B, M: Apply All Borders with Medium Line Style
- Alt + H, B, P: Apply All Borders with Medium Dash Dot Dot Line Style
- Alt + H, B, S: Apply All Borders with Short Dash Line Style
- Alt + H, B, X: Remove All Borders
- Ctrl + 1 and then B: Open Format Cells dialog box to apply various border styles
- Ctrl + Shift + &: Apply Outline Border
How do I apply all borders to a range quickly?
To apply all borders to a range quickly, you can use the shortcut Alt + H, B, A. This will apply all borders to the selected range.
How do I remove all borders from a range quickly?
To remove all borders from a range quickly, you can use the shortcut Alt + H, B, X. This will remove all borders from the selected range.
How do I apply a specific border style to a range?
To apply a specific border style to a range, you can use the shortcut combination Alt + H, B followed by a specific letter. For example, Alt + H, B, L will apply a left border, Alt + H, B, T will apply a top border, and Alt + H, B, U will apply a thick bottom border.
How do I open the Format Cells dialog box to apply various border styles?
To open the Format Cells dialog box to apply various border styles, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + 1 and then press B. This will bring up the Format Cells dialog box where you can select various border styles.
How do I apply an outline border to a range quickly?
To apply an outline border to a range quickly, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + &. This will apply an outline border to the selected range.