How to Hide Gridlines in Excel and Show Them Again

Written By Sophanith Dith
Last Updated June 10, 2026
Applies to Microsoft Excel 365 (Windows only)
Part of the Beginner Learning Path
Module 3 Formatting and Layout
Lesson 8 of 14

Table of Contents

When you open a worksheet, Excel usually shows light gray lines around the cells. These lines help you see rows and columns, but sometimes they can make a spreadsheet look crowded, especially when you are creating a clean report, form, or dashboard-style sheet.

Learning how to hide gridlines in Excel helps you make a worksheet look cleaner without changing any data, formulas, or formatting. You can also show the gridlines again anytime, so this is a safe setting for beginners to try.

In this tutorial, you will learn what gridlines are, how to hide them, how to show them again, and what to check if Excel gridlines disappear unexpectedly.

Quick Answer:
To hide gridlines in Excel, go to the View tab and uncheck Gridlines in the Show group. To show them again, return to the View tab and check Gridlines. For printing, use Page Layout → Sheet Options → Gridlines.

Before going step by step, below is the simple version of what you will learn.

Quick Reference

Use this as a quick reminder when you only need the main setting.

To hide gridlines, go to View → Show → Gridlines and remove the checkmark.
To show gridlines again, return to the same checkbox and turn Gridlines back on.
Gridlines only help you see cells on the worksheet; they are not the same as borders.
Use the Page Layout tab if you want to control both visible and printed gridlines.
If gridlines are not showing in Excel, check the gridline setting and cell fill color.

The fastest method is in the View tab, so let’s start there.

What Are Gridlines in Excel?

Gridlines are the faint lines you see between cells in a worksheet. They make it easier to follow rows and columns while entering, reading, or checking data.

For beginners, gridlines in Excel are helpful because they show where each cell begins and ends. Without them, a blank worksheet can look like one large white page.

For example, if you type names in column A and scores in column B, gridlines help your eyes separate one row from the next. They are especially useful when you are still learning how worksheets are organized.

However, gridlines are only a worksheet display guide. They do not create printed borders around your data, and they do not change the actual cell formatting.

This means hiding gridlines changes the worksheet view only. It does not remove data, formulas, or cell formatting.

Beginner Tip:
Think of Excel worksheet gridlines as visual guides. They help you work inside the worksheet, but they are not the same as formatting.

If you are still new to cells, rows, and columns, you may want to review our post on Understanding Cells, Rows, Columns, and Worksheets in Excel before continuing.

Once you understand what gridlines are, hiding them becomes much easier to understand.

How to Hide Gridlines in Excel Using the View Tab

The View tab is the quickest place to hide worksheet gridlines. This method changes what you see on the screen, but it does not delete data or change your formulas.

Use this method when you want to turn off gridlines in Excel for a cleaner worksheet view.

Steps to Hide Gridlines

Follow these steps while your worksheet is open.

Click anywhere inside the worksheet.
Go to the View tab on the Ribbon.
In the Show group, find the Gridlines checkbox.
Uncheck the Gridlines box.

Excel immediately removes the worksheet gridlines from view.

This is the most common answer when beginners search for how to remove gridlines in Excel. You are not deleting anything from the worksheet. You are only hiding the visual lines between cells.

Microsoft also provides an official guide on how to show or hide gridlines on a worksheet, which is helpful if you want to confirm the basic worksheet setting.

Beginner Warning:
Do not confuse hiding gridlines with clearing cell borders. If your worksheet still has dark lines after you hide gridlines, those lines are probably borders.

For a full lesson on adding and removing border formatting, see How to Add Borders in Excel.

After hiding gridlines, your worksheet may look cleaner, but you may also want to bring them back while editing.

How to Show Gridlines in Excel Again

If you hide gridlines and later want them back, you can show them again with the same checkbox. This is helpful when you need the clean look for a report but prefer gridlines while working.

The process is almost the same as hiding them.

Steps to Show Gridlines Again

Use these steps when gridlines are hidden or when Excel gridlines are not visible on the active worksheet.

Click inside the worksheet where the gridlines are hidden.
Go to the View tab.
In the Show group, check the Gridlines box.

Excel will show worksheet gridlines again immediately.

This is the simplest way to turn gridlines back on if they were hidden from the View tab.

Beginner Tip:
The gridlines setting applies to the active worksheet. If you have several sheets in the same workbook, you may need to check each worksheet separately.

For example, Sheet1 may show gridlines, but Sheet2 may not. That does not mean something is broken. It usually means the setting is different on each sheet.

The View tab is usually enough, but Excel also gives you another place to control gridlines.

Use the Page Layout Gridlines Option

The Page Layout tab gives you another way to control worksheet gridlines. This area is especially useful because it has separate options for what you see on screen and what appears when you print.

Beginners often miss this because the View tab gridlines option is more obvious. However, the Page Layout gridlines option gives you more control when you are preparing a worksheet for sharing or printing.

Use the Page Layout Gridlines Option for View and Print

Follow these steps to find it.

Go to the Page Layout tab.
Look for the Sheet Options group.
Under Gridlines, use the View checkbox to show or hide gridlines on screen.
Use the Print checkbox if you want gridlines to appear when printing.

The View checkbox controls whether you can see gridlines on the worksheet. The Print checkbox controls whether Excel prints gridlines on paper or in a PDF.

This is useful when you want gridlines visible while editing but not printed in the final version. It is also useful when you want to print gridlines in Excel without adding borders manually.

Beginner Warning:
The Page Layout tab has separate options for viewing and printing. If gridlines show on your screen but do not print, check the Print checkbox under Gridlines.

The next section clears up one of the most common beginner misunderstandings: gridlines and borders are not the same thing.

Excel Gridlines vs Borders

Gridlines and borders may look similar at first, but they behave differently. Understanding the difference helps you avoid frustration when formatting worksheets.

Gridlines are automatic worksheet guides. Borders are formatting that you apply to selected cells.

Here is a simple comparison.

Feature	Gridlines	Borders
Purpose	Helps you see cells on the worksheet	Creates visible lines around selected cells
Applied automatically	Yes	No
Can be customized heavily	No	Yes
Usually prints by default	No, unless Print gridlines is turned on	Yes, if applied
Best for	Editing and viewing cells	Reports, tables, and finished layouts

If you hide gridlines in Excel and still see lines around some cells, those lines are probably borders. Borders stay visible because they are part of the cell formatting.

For example, if you created a small sales report and added borders around the total row, hiding gridlines will not remove those border lines. This is a good thing because it means your formatting stays in place.

Beginner Tip:
Use gridlines while working. Use borders when you want certain cells, totals, headings, or tables to stand out.

This difference also matters when you start thinking about printing.

Do Gridlines Print in Excel?

By default, gridlines are mainly for viewing the worksheet on screen. They usually do not print unless you specifically turn on the print gridlines option.

This is why a worksheet can show gridlines on your screen but look blank or borderless when printed. Excel treats screen gridlines and printed gridlines as separate settings.

How to Print Gridlines in Excel

If you want gridlines to appear on a printed page, use the Page Layout tab.

Go to the Page Layout tab.
Find the Sheet Options group.
Under Gridlines, check Print.
Open Print Preview to check how the sheet will look.

This section only gives you the basic setting. Printing involves other layout choices, such as margins, page orientation, scaling, and print area. Those belong in a separate printing lesson.

Before we finish, let’s look at what to do when gridlines seem to disappear for no clear reason.

What to Do When Gridlines Are Not Showing in Excel

Sometimes beginners think Excel is broken because the gridlines suddenly disappear. In most cases, the problem is caused by a simple setting or formatting change.

If you notice Excel gridlines disappear, check the following causes.

1. The Gridlines Checkbox Is Turned Off

The first thing to check is the View tab gridlines option.

Go to View → Show → Gridlines and make sure the box is checked.

If the box is unchecked, Excel gridlines will not appear on the active worksheet.

2. Cells Have a Fill Color

Gridlines may also disappear when cells have a background fill color. Even a white fill color can cover the default gridlines.

For example, if you selected the entire worksheet and applied a white fill, the sheet may look like gridlines are missing. In that case, the gridlines are being covered by cell formatting.

To check this:

Select the cells where gridlines are missing. If the whole sheet looks blank, click the triangle in the top-left corner of the worksheet to select all cells.
Go to the Home tab.
In the Font group, open the Fill Color menu.
Choose No Fill.

Beginner Warning:
Choosing white fill is not the same as choosing No Fill. White fill can make Excel gridlines not visible.

3. You Are Looking at a Different Worksheet

Gridline settings can vary by worksheet. If gridlines appear on one sheet but not another, click each sheet tab and check the setting again.

This is common in workbooks with multiple sheets, especially if one sheet is designed as a clean report and another is used for raw data.

4. Borders Are Being Mistaken for Gridlines

Sometimes the opposite happens. A beginner hides gridlines but still sees lines and thinks the setting did not work.

If the lines are dark, thick, colored, or only around certain cells, they are probably borders. To remove those, you need to change border formatting, not gridline settings.

A simple way to remember it is this: gridlines belong to the worksheet view, while borders belong to cell formatting.

Now that you know how to control gridlines and troubleshoot common issues, it is time to practice.

Quick Practice

Practice helps you understand the difference between hiding gridlines and changing formatting. Use a blank worksheet or a simple sample table.

Try this quick exercise.

Open a blank worksheet.
Type a small list in cells A1:B5, such as product names in column A and prices in column B.
Go to View → Show and uncheck Gridlines.
Look at how the worksheet changes.
Check Gridlines again to show gridlines in Excel.
Select A1:B5 and add borders from the Home tab.
Hide gridlines again and notice that the borders stay visible.
Go to Page Layout → Sheet Options and look at the Gridlines View and Print checkboxes.

This short practice shows the main idea clearly: hiding gridlines changes the worksheet view, while borders remain as formatting.

After trying this yourself, the main difference should be clear: gridlines control how the worksheet looks while you work, but they do not change your actual data or formatting. Here are the key points to remember.

Key Takeaways

Gridlines are a small feature, but they affect how comfortable a worksheet is to read and edit. Once you know where the settings are, you can switch between a clean layout and an easier editing view anytime.

Gridlines are the light lines between worksheet cells.
The fastest way to hide gridlines is View → Show → Gridlines.
To show gridlines again, check the same box.
The Page Layout tab controls both visible and printed gridlines.
Gridlines and borders are different.
If gridlines are not showing in Excel, check the View setting, Page Layout setting, and cell fill color.
Use borders for final report formatting, not gridlines.

These points cover the main gridline settings, but beginners often have a few extra questions about hiding, showing, printing, and missing gridlines. Let’s answer the most common ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I hide gridlines in Excel?

To hide gridlines in Excel, go to the View tab and uncheck Gridlines in the Show group. This hides the worksheet gridlines on the active sheet.

How do I show gridlines in Excel again?

To show gridlines in Excel again, go to the View tab and check the Gridlines box. If gridlines are still not visible, check whether the cells have a fill color.

Is hiding gridlines the same as removing borders?

No. Gridlines are built-in worksheet guides, while borders are cell formatting. If you hide gridlines and still see lines, those lines are probably borders.

Why are my Excel gridlines not visible?

Excel gridlines may not be visible because the Gridlines checkbox is turned off, cells have a fill color, or you are viewing a different worksheet with different settings.

Can I remove gridlines from a worksheet without deleting data?

Yes. When you remove gridlines from worksheet view, you are only hiding the visual cell guides. Your data, formulas, and formatting remain unchanged.

Can I print gridlines in Excel?

Yes. Go to Page Layout → Sheet Options → Gridlines and check Print. Then use Print Preview to confirm how the page will look.

Once you understand these common questions, gridlines become much easier to control. Let’s wrap up with the main lesson and where to go next in the beginner learning path.

Conclusion

Learning how to hide gridlines in Excel is a simple way to make your worksheet look cleaner while keeping all your data safe. You can hide gridlines when preparing a report, show them again while editing, and use the Page Layout options when you need more control over viewing or printing.

The most important thing to remember is that gridlines are only visual guides. They are not the same as borders, and they do not change your actual worksheet data.

This lesson is part of the Beginner Learning Path, a structured series designed to help you learn Microsoft Excel step by step from the basics.