3 Easy Steps To Creating Thick Outside Borders In Excel

Do you find Excel data too overwhelming? Want to make it easier to identify and compare data? This article will show you how to easily create thick outside borders in Excel in just 3 simple steps!

How to Create Thick Outside Borders in Excel

Do you wish to make your Excel tables and charts stand out? Thick outside borders are an effective way of doing so. It only takes a few clicks to create them!

First, select the cells or group of cells that you want to format. Go to the “Borders” section in the “Home” tab on the Excel ribbon. Click the down arrow beside the “Borders” icon. Select the icon for a thick outside border; this is usually the fourth option in the top row of the border styles. Click on it to apply the thick outside border.

If you want to alter the border’s color, click the down arrow next to the border style options and pick a new color from the palette. These thick borders help draw the reader’s eye to the table or chart. It can make the information easier to read and break up large sets of data into more readable sections. Additionally, using consistent formatting across your spreadsheets can make it look more professional.

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not use multiple thicknesses or colors? For example, you could use a thicker border on the top and bottom of a table. Or, use a different color to highlight a key column or row. Experimenting with border styles and colors can make your spreadsheets more aesthetically pleasing and interesting.

Setting Up Your Spreadsheet

Formatting is the essential key when creating a tidy and organized spreadsheet in Excel. Adding thick outside borders to the cells can help make the content simpler to read. Here’s how to start.

1. Open a new spreadsheet in Excel.
2. Then, input the data to be formatted.
3. After that, adding those thick borders will be a cinch!

Let’s begin!

Open a New Spreadsheet in Excel

Want to create a spreadsheet in Excel? It’s easy! Open Excel and select the “Blank workbook” option from the available templates or select “New” from the File menu.

Before inputting your data, decide how many columns and rows you need. You can add or delete them with a click of a button. Right-click on the column or row header and select “Insert” or “Delete”.

Give your spreadsheet a title. Click on the top cell of the first column and type it in.

Freeze panes to keep headers visible when scrolling through data. Select the cell below and to the right of the area you want to freeze. Go to “View” in the top menu bar followed by “Freeze Panes.”

Now your spreadsheet is ready – time to input data. Let’s move onto our next topic: how to format data in Excel.

Input the Data You Want to Format

To input data into Excel, follow these steps:

1. Open a new spreadsheet.
2. Click the cell you want to enter data in.
3. Type data and press enter.
4. Repeat for all data you want to enter.
5. Select the cells by clicking and dragging with your mouse.
6. Now start formatting.

Plan out how you want your data displayed before entering it. This saves time and helps your spreadsheet look professional.

Check if there are any errors or incorrect values in the cells.

Pro Tip: Use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), and Ctrl+Z (undo) to save time when inputting lots of data.

Let’s learn how to format our data for a great-looking spreadsheet!

Formatting Your Data

Formatting data in Excel? Adding borders makes spreadsheets look pro and easy-to-read. Here’s 3 steps to create thick outside borders!

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Access the ‘Borders’ tab in the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box.
3. Choose the ‘Outline’ option from the ‘Border’ drop-down.

By the end, you’ll be a pro at formatting Excel spreadsheets!

Select the Cells You Want to Format

Choosing cells to format is the first step to creating thick outside borders in Excel. Do it by:

• Highlighting all cells you want to format. Click and drag your mouse.
• Or, you can pick certain cells by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on each one.
• If the cells are already next to each other, simply click the first one and drag your mouse over them.
• To select an entire row or column, click its header (letter for columns or number for rows).

Remember, selecting cells correctly is essential for neat spreadsheets. When you’re done, it’s time to move on to formatting.

Did you know that adding borders makes data more visually appealing? A Venngage survey[1] in Forbes showed that 38% of people look at color when viewing data visuals. Borders also help make data easier to read and understand.

Next: Accessing the ‘Borders’ Tab in the ‘Format Cells’ Dialog Box.

Access the ‘Borders’ Tab in the ‘Format Cells’ Dialog Box

Are you looking to access the ‘Borders’ tab in the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box? To do this, select the cells or range of cells you want to format. Then, right-click on one of the selected cells and click ‘Format Cells’ in the menu that appears.

Now, in the Format Cells dialog box that opens, click on the ‘Border’ tab located at the top. This will open a menu where you can choose from different border styles, adjust line thickness, and change color.

To get thick outside borders for your data, here’s what to do:

1. Select the cells/cell range you want to format
2. Right-click and select ‘Format Cells’
3. Choose the ‘Border’ tab
4. Click on the outline option from the drop-down menu under ‘Border’
5. Increase line thickness by selecting a higher number from ‘Weight’

Adding borders to data in Excel can make it look more organized and stand out. Accessing the Borders tab is key to customizing borders according to your preference. After selecting the cell range to format and right-clicking it, you’ll see ‘Format Cells’. Here, you can find the Borders tab.

By following the 5-step guide, you can easily add thick outside borders. Additionally, any alterations made from the Borders tab are saved for next time you access it. To make formatting even more efficient, create a template with pre-formatted cells, use shortcut keys to quickly access the Format Cells Dialog Box, and group cells together to apply borders at once.

Choose the ‘Outline’ Option from the ‘Border’ Drop-Down

Select the cell(s) you want to apply borders to. Click on the ‘Border’ drop-down menu under the ‘Home’ tab in Excel. Choose ‘Outline’ from the options given.

Doing this adds a thicker outside border to your data. It makes the outer edge stand out from other data on the spreadsheet.

By following this guide, you can format and highlight important bits of data. Don’t miss out on showing crucial information.

Now we’ll move onto another essential skill – Adjusting Border Thickness.

Adjusting Border Thickness

Want to make your data stand out? Thicker borders in Excel are the way to go! Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to the Border Tab and select the Line Style option.
2. Pick your desired border thickness from the Line Style dropdown.
3. Click OK to apply the changes.

That’s it! You now know how to create thicker borders in no time.

Select the ‘Line Style’ Option from the ‘Border’ Tab

If you want to make thick outside borders in Excel, the first step is to select the ‘Line Style’ Option from the ‘Border’ Tab. Follow these 3 steps:

1. Select the cells or range to apply the border to.
2. Go to the ‘Home’ tab on the Excel ribbon and click on the ‘Border’ tab under the ‘Font’ group.
3. Choose ‘More Borders’ from the drop-down menu and pick either a thick solid line or a double line border.

You can customize borders by adjusting their color, width and style. This makes tables and spreadsheets look more attractive and easier to read. But, before making any changes, make sure you have selected the right cells or range. Otherwise, it could lead to data loss or calculation errors. So, save a backup first.

I had to present a large report with many tables in Excel once. It was difficult because each table needed special formatting for better readability. After trying out different options, I found out that selecting the Line Style option from the Border Tab can put thick outside borders around multiple cells at once. This saved me a lot of time and I finished the report on time.

To create thicker outside borders in Excel, choose your desired Border Thickness from the Line Style drop-down menu, using the steps already mentioned.

Choose Your Desired Border Thickness from the ‘Line Style’ Drop-Down

Hover over the button and some new options will appear – ‘Line Style’, ‘Line Color’, and ‘Weight’. Click on ‘Line Style’. A drop-down menu will then appear with different line styles. Choose the desired thickness for your outside border by clicking an option.

1. After selecting, a thick outside border will be automatically applied to your chosen cells.

That’s all it takes to create a thick outside border in Excel! Use these steps to adjust the border thickness in Excel for better presentation or emphasis.

You now know how easy it is to change border thickness in Excel. So, what are you waiting for? Get your mouse or keyboard and explore all the customizable features! Data alignment is essential – avoid messy-looking spreadsheets!

Click ‘OK’ to Apply the Changes

Tap the ‘OK’ button in the bottom right corner of the Format Cells dialogue box. Or, double click the edge of a cell or range where you applied changes. For more than one cell or range selected, use these shortcuts:

• CTRL + ENTER (Windows)
• CMD + RETURN (Mac).

Changes will be visible in your worksheet once complete.

To understand ‘OK’ to Apply the Changes, it’s a confirmation step before applying formatting changes in Excel. New users can sometimes forget this and ask why their changes aren’t showing up.

Pro Tip: If unsure which thickness to use, try different widths and preview them. Select to observe how it looks without permanent changes. So, experiment with what looks best for data, instead of undoing steps afterwards.

FAQs about 3 Easy Steps To Creating Thick Outside Borders In Excel

What are the 3 easy steps to creating thick outside borders in Excel?

The 3 easy steps to creating thick outside borders in Excel are:

1. Select the cells you want to apply the border to
2. In the Home tab, click the arrow next to ‘Borders’ in the ‘Font’ group and select ‘More Borders’
3. In the ‘Borders’ dialog box, select the ‘Outside Borders’ option and set the line style and thickness as desired

How do I select multiple cells in Excel?

To select multiple cells in Excel:

1. Click on the first cell you want to select
2. Hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key
3. Click on the other cells you want to select

Can I apply outside borders to non-contiguous cells?

Yes, you can apply outside borders to non-contiguous cells in Excel:

1. Select the first group of cells you want to apply the border to
2. Hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key and select the other cells you want to include
3. Follow the steps for creating the thick outside border as usual

What if I want to modify an existing border?

If you want to modify an existing border in Excel:

1. Select the cells with the border you want to modify
2. In the Home tab, click the arrow next to ‘Borders’ in the ‘Font’ group and select ‘More Borders’
3. In the ‘Borders’ dialog box, select the ‘Outline’ or ‘Inside’ option and modify the line style and thickness as desired

Can I remove an outside border from cells?

Yes, you can remove an outside border from cells in Excel:

1. Select the cells with the border you want to remove
2. In the Home tab, click the arrow next to ‘Borders’ in the ‘Font’ group and select ‘No Border’

Is there a shortcut for applying outside borders in Excel?

Yes, you can use the following shortcut to quickly apply outside borders to a range of cells:

1. Select the cells you want to apply the border to
2. Press ‘Ctrl+Shift+&’ (Ctrl, Shift and the ampersand symbol) on your keyboard