What is the default value of the column width in ms excel 2010?

This Excel tutorial explains how to change the width a column in Excel 2010 (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).

Question: How do I change the width of a column in Microsoft Excel 2010?

Answer: Select the entire column that you wish to modify.

Right-click and select "Column Width" from the popup menu.

When the Column Width window appears, select the new width value for the column and click on the OK button.

Now the selected column should reflect this new width.

Getting frustrated to adjust the width of the column every time? Want to know the Auto Fit way of Excel to change the column width? Then this article will let you know about the basic idea on how to change the width of the column and its Auto Fit method. Let’s get on to the topic.

An Introduction to Column Width

If you want to expand Excel’s column width, there are many ways to expand them. The minimum and maximum size of width in Excel is 0 to 255. The default value for column width is 8.43. you can set a range for column width based on these minimum, maximum and default values.

Note. The column is considered as hidden, if a column’s width is set to zero (0),

You can find the value of column width by clicking on the column header. The below image will display the default value of column width.

Note. If the data you enter in the cell is too large to place in the column, the column width in Excel do not adjust it automatically. It will either overlaps the next cell or expand over the cell border.

Change the Width of the Single Column

The easiest and common way to adjust a column width is by dragging the border of the column header to the right or left. You can adjust single column or even multiple columns.

Drag the right border of the column header until the size of the width you set to change the width of a single column.

In this example, you can see that the Email column has the default width value and the text overlaps the next cell. Excel does not adjust the width automatically.

Note. The large text string can be changed to hash symbols (######), if the column to the right contains data.

To adjust the width, drag the pointer of the column header B to the right. Now you can see that the width value has been changed to 18.00 (131 pixels). The below image will help you to know the change in column width.

Change the Width of Multiple Columns

Select the group of columns (to change the width of multiple columns), then drag the border of any column heading in the selection.

In this example, you can see that the width of all columns is too small and the text of Column E is expanding over the cell border. So you need to change the width of every column presented here. Select the range of cells and drag them.

To adjust the width of multiple columns, drag the pointer of the column header E to the right. Now you can see that the width is changed and the text is clearly displayed. The below image will help you to comprehend better.

Note. If you want to make the same width for all columns, then press Ctrl + A and drag them.

How to Set a Custom Number to Adjust Column Width?

Instead of dragging the column header, you can adjust the column width numerically. Once you set the value for the column width, it will adjust according to the number of value specified in the Column Width.

1. Click one or more columns where you want to adjust the width of the column.

2. Then select Home > Format (under the group name “Cells”) > Column Width.

3. A dialog box appears to enter the size for the column width. Set the value and click OK.

Once you click OK, the column width will be adjusted to 20.00 (145 pixels). The below image will show you the change in column width.

Note. Alternatively, the column width dialog box also appears by right clicking the column and select Column Width in the menu.

How to Auto Fit columns in Excel?

The data entered in the cell will adjust the column of the width to fit the largest value by using auto fit. Instead of dragging, this can be done by just double clicking the pointer on top of the column to be adjusted.

In this example, you can see that the column width value is 8.14 (62 pixels) which is smaller than the default value and the text is not clearly displayed. You can adjust it by double clicking the pointer on the top of the column.

Alternatively, you can adjust the column width by auto fit in this form: Home > Format (under the group name “Cells”) > AutoFit Column Width.

Note. The shortcut key for Auto Fit Column Width : Alt + H + O + I

It will automatically adjust the column width according to the number of characters presented in the cell. The below image will help you to understand better.

Note. You can change the default value of the column width, by following this step: Home > Format (under the group name “Cells”) > Default Width.

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