How to Change the Font Size in Microsoft Excel 2016

Changing the font size in Microsoft Excel 2016 is a simple yet powerful way to make your data easier to read. Whether you want to make headings stand out or make data more compact, Excel gives you full control over text size. Let’s explore how you can do this step by step.

Why Change the Font Size in Excel?

Changing the font size helps in:

• Making titles or headers more visible.
• Improving readability for printed sheets.
• Adjusting layout for presentations or reports.
• Creating a clean and organized look.

Method 1: Using the Home Tab

This is the quickest way to change font size for selected cells. Follow these steps:

• Select the cells: Click and drag to highlight the cell or range of cells you want to change.
• Go to the Home tab: Look for the “Font” section on the ribbon.
• Change font size: Click the dropdown arrow next to the font size box (it usually shows “11” by default).
• Select a size: Choose a size like “14” or “24” to make your text larger, or type a custom size directly into the box.
• Press Enter: Your selected cells will now display the new font size.

Method 2: Changing the Default Font Size for All New Workbooks

If you often use the same font size, you can set a default so you don’t have to change it every time you open a new workbook.

• Step 1: Go to File → Options.
• Step 2: Click the General tab in the Excel Options dialog box.
• Step 3: Under “When creating new workbooks,” find the Font Size box.
• Step 4: Choose your preferred size (for example, 12 or 14).
• Step 5: Click OK and restart Excel for the changes to apply.

From now on, every new workbook will automatically use your chosen font size. This is especially useful if you frequently prepare reports or sheets in a consistent format.

Additional Tips

• Make headings bold and larger for better visibility.
• Keep data text around size 10–12 for clarity.
• For printed reports, preview your sheet before printing to ensure font sizes look professional.
• Use consistent font sizes for a clean layout.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t make text too large—it can make your sheet look unorganized.
• Avoid mixing too many different font sizes on the same sheet.
• Check cell alignment after changing font size, as larger text can overlap adjacent cells.

5 FAQs about Changing Font Size in Excel 2016

1. Can I apply different font sizes in the same cell?

Yes. Double-click inside the cell, highlight the text you want to resize, and change its font size from the Home tab.

2. How do I quickly reset to the default font size?

Simply select the cells and set the font size back to “11” or your chosen default size.

3. Does changing the font size affect formulas?

No. Font size changes only affect how text looks, not the data or formulas in the cell.

4. Can I use keyboard shortcuts to change font size?

Excel doesn’t have direct shortcuts, but you can press Alt + H + F + S to open the font size box quickly.

5. Why doesn’t my font size change in Excel?

If cells are merged or locked, font size changes might not apply. Unmerge or unlock the cells first.

Conclusion

Changing the font size in Microsoft Excel 2016 is a simple way to make your data more readable and visually appealing. Whether you use the Home tab for quick edits or set a default size for new workbooks, Excel gives you flexible control. Start experimenting with different sizes to find what best suits your style and data presentation needs!