Printing Problems

How to Fix Excel Gridlines Not Printing Correctly

Olivia Miller Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where gridlines do not appear on printed Excel worksheets even when the print gridlines setting is turned on.

How to Fix Excel Gridlines Not Printing Correctly

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a spreadsheet data set where visible gridlines are required for easier reading on the physical paper.
Observed behavior: Some or all gridlines are missing from the printed page or PDF export, often due to overlapping formatting, print area limits, or printer driver configurations.

Before you start

Verify that the 'Print' checkbox under the Gridlines section in the Page Layout tab is checked, and ensure your printer has sufficient ink to render light gray lines.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cell Background Fills and Custom Borders

Use this solution if gridlines are missing in specific sections of your worksheet. White background fills or white borders visually hide the default gridlines.

By default, Excel gridlines sit behind the cell data. If a cell is formatted with a 'White' fill color instead of 'No Fill', it will block the gridline from printing. Similarly, custom borders can override standard gridlines.

Select the affected cells

Highlight the range of cells where the gridlines are failing to print.

Remove background fill

Navigate to the Home tab, click the 'Fill Color' bucket icon dropdown, and select 'No Fill'.

Clear custom borders

Still on the Home tab, click the 'Borders' dropdown icon and select 'No Border' to remove any overriding border settings.

Clear Cell Background Fills and Custom Borders

Tip: If you need specific lines to be bold or dark, apply 'All Borders' to the cells instead of relying on default print gridlines.

Solution 2

Verify Print Area and Disable Printer Draft Mode

Use this method if the entire worksheet's gridlines are missing, which is often caused by incorrect print areas or ink-saving printer settings.

Solution 3

Copy Data to a New Worksheet

Apply this solution if you suspect the current worksheet is corrupted or has unresolvable hidden formatting issues.

Seamless Printing with WPS Office

Easily Print Worksheets with Gridlines in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office provides a highly intuitive interface for adjusting print settings, ensuring your gridlines, borders, and cell formatting appear exactly as expected on paper without hidden formatting conflicts.

1. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file where gridlines are missing.
2. Access Page Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab located on the top ribbon.
3. Enable Print Gridlines: Locate the 'Gridlines' section and check the 'Print' option.
4. Preview and Print: Click 'Print Preview' to verify the gridlines are visible, then print your document.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) filesClear page layout and intuitive print preview modesAdvanced print settings to easily toggle gridlines on or offFree, lightweight, and fast office suite

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do gridlines show on my screen but not on paper?

Screen gridlines and print gridlines are controlled separately. While they are visible on your screen by default, you must explicitly enable the 'Print' option under the Page Layout tab for them to appear on paper. Additionally, 'White' cell fill colors can block them from printing.

Does Draft Quality affect printed gridlines?

Yes. Many printers automatically disable gridlines, background colors, and graphics in Draft or Economy mode to save ink and print faster. Disabling draft mode in your Printer Properties usually resolves this.

How do I make gridlines darker when printing?

Standard Excel gridlines are a faint gray and cannot have their printed line weight changed directly. To make them darker, highlight the cells, go to the Home tab, click the Borders dropdown, and apply 'All Borders' using a black line color.

Can I print gridlines for only a specific part of the spreadsheet?

Yes. You can select the specific cells you want to print, go to Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area, and ensure the Print Gridlines option is checked. Only the gridlines within that area will print.

Document & File Issues