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Excel - Mastering Borders in Excel: A Complete Guide | MrExcel Podcast - Episode 344

434 views · Published 18 November 2009 · 3:07 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: MrExcel.com · 2009 · Education

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Microsoft Excel Tutorial - Mastering Borders in Excel: A Complete Guide | MrExcel Podcast.

Welcome back to the MrExcel podcast! In this episode, we'll be diving into the world of borders in Excel. Borders may seem like a small detail, but they can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your spreadsheet. So let's get started!

First, I have a worksheet here where I've selected a range of cells. To apply borders, we'll go to the Format Cells dialog box and choose the Border tab. But before we start applying borders, it's important to choose the line style and color first. This will make it easier to see the changes we make.

Let's say I want a double outline border in blue. I'll choose blue as the color and then click OK. Now, there are three different ways to apply borders. At the top, there are three preset buttons for the outline, inside, and outside borders. The outline button will create a double border around the entire range, while the inside button will fill in all the interior gridlines. The outside button allows you to choose specific borders for the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the selection.

But that's not all! There are also options for cross-through borders, which can be useful for indicating that an option is not available. And for those who want absolute control, the Format Cells dialog box on the Border tab is the way to go. And here's a cool trick - you can click and drag the borders drop-down menu to make it a floating palette next to your data. This makes it easier to quickly apply and remove borders as needed.

So there you have it - everything you need to know about borders in Excel. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the MrExcel podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest videos. See you next time!

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Table of Contents:
(00:00) Introduction to applying borders in Excel
(00:21) Choosing line style and color on the Border tab
(00:47) Three ways to apply borders: preset buttons, options for specific borders, and cross-through borders
(01:50) Using the borders drop-down for minor border options
(02:44) Absolute control with the Format Cells on the Border tab
(02:54) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

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This video answers these common search terms:
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Filling in interior gridlines with borders
Format Cells dialog box
Preset buttons for outline and inside borders
Using the borders drop-down on the Formatting toolbar


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The complete guide to applying borders to a selection. Learn what all of those icons actually do on the borders tab. Episode 344 shows you how.

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