Align cells in Excel

The cells in Excel can contain anything. For example, text, amounts of money or other numbers. By default, numbers are aligned right. Text, on the other hand, is left aligned by default. In order to nicely format the data in a worksheet, the content sometimes needs to align differently. With a few mouse clicks, Excel aligns the cell contents in a different way.

• Launch Excel.
• Click cell A1 and type a number or text.
• Press the Enter key.
• Cell A2 is now active. Click on cell A1.
• The ‘Alignment’ group on the ‘Home’ tab lists the various alignment options. For horizontal alignment there are options ‘Align left’ , ‘Center’ and ‘Right Alignment’ . Click on the desired option.
• Above the horizontal alignment buttons are options to vertically align the contents of the cell. Vertical alignment only works for cells that are a different size than normal, for example if cells are merged within a table. It can then be nicer to show the content above or in the middle. If applicable, click the desired option.

You can also align multiple cells at the same time.

• Select the cells you want to align.
• Click on the first cell, hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse pointer over the other cells.
• Release the mouse button.
• Press the button Align Left , center or Align right .