How to Set Print Area in Excel

There are two ways to specify the workbook data that is printed: setting the print area and adjusting the page breaks.

Set the Print Area

Sometimes you may only want to print part of a worksheet. You can define an area so that any time you print, only that cell range is printed.

1. Select the cells you want to print.
2. Click the Page Layout tab.
3. Click the Print Area button.
4. Select Set Print Area.
   

   Once a print area is set, add additional print areas by selecting the additional cells, clicking the Print Area button, and selecting Add to Print Area.

A dark gray border appears around the print area. When you print, only the cells within that range appear on the page.

Remove a Print Area

1. Click the Page Layout tab.
2. Click the Print Area button.
3. Select Clear Print Area.
   

The print area is cleared and the entire worksheet will print once again.

Page Breaks

Excel automatically breaks up the page based on the margins and other page settings, but it’s also possible to adjust these page breaks or add alternative breaks to divide a worksheet into separate pages for printing.

Adjust Page Breaks

1. Click the View tab.
2. Click the Page Break Preview button.

   Click the Page Break Preview button on the status bar.

   The worksheet appears in Page Break Preview view.

3. To move a page break, click and drag it to a new location.
   

Dashed lines indicate automatic page breaks, while solid lines represent page breaks that you have changed or added.