Printing Problems

How to Fix Hash Marks in Excel Print Preview and Printed Pages

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are encountering hash marks (######) when previewing or printing an Excel worksheet, even though the data displays correctly in the normal editing view.

How to Fix Hash Marks in Excel Print Preview and Printed Pages

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Preparing to print a spreadsheet with numerical or date data.
Observed behavior: Cells display hash marks in Print Preview and on printed pages instead of the actual cell values.

Before you start

Verify whether the issue occurs across all printers by changing your active printer to 'Microsoft Print to PDF' to see if the hash marks still appear in the preview.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Print Scaling to Fit Page Width

Scaling the worksheet to automatically fit the width of the page is the most effective way to prevent columns from squishing and causing hash marks.

Hash marks typically appear when a column is not wide enough to display numbers or dates based on the printer's resolution and margin settings.

Open Page Layout Settings

Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the ribbon menu and locate the 'Scale to Fit' group.

Set Width to 1 Page

Click the drop-down menu next to 'Width' and select '1 page'. Keep the 'Height' set to 'Automatic'.

Adjust Margins

Click on 'Margins' in the Page Setup group and select 'Narrow' to provide maximum space for your columns.

Verify in Print Preview

Go to File > Print (or press Ctrl + P) to open the Print Preview. Check if the hash marks have reverted to numbers.

Pro Tip: You can also change the page orientation from Portrait to Landscape under Page Layout > Orientation if your spreadsheet contains many columns.

Solution 2

Manually AutoFit Column Widths

If scaling down makes the text too small to read, manually widening the columns on the sheet can resolve the issue.

Solution 3

Change Number and Date Formatting

Shortening the format of dates or reducing decimal places can make data fit into existing column widths without altering the page layout.

Seamless Spreadsheet Printing

Print Spreadsheets Perfectly with WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet offers an intuitive Print Preview with drag-and-drop margin adjustments and one-click scaling tools. Easily format and print your data accurately, without running into frustrating hash mark errors.

1. Open your spreadsheet in WPS Office: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file you need to print.
2. Access Print Preview: Click on the Print Preview icon in the quick access toolbar or press Ctrl + P.
3. Use Fit Sheet on One Page: In the preview settings pane, select 'Fit Sheet on One Page' under the scaling options to automatically optimize column widths.
4. Print without hash marks: Verify that all numbers and dates are clearly visible, then click the Print button to complete the process.

Intuitive drag-and-drop print margins right in the preview windowFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .xls) formatsOne-click AutoFit capabilities to prevent hash marksFree and lightweight alternative for daily office tasks

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do hash marks (######) only show up when I print, but not on my screen?

This occurs because standard screen resolution and printer resolution differ. Your printer relies on the specific margin settings and paper size, which can slightly compress the available space for a column during printing. If a column's width is borderline on screen, this slight compression forces the data into hash marks to prevent truncated numbers.

Can changing the font size fix hash marks in Print Preview?

Yes. Selecting the affected columns and reducing the font size by 1 or 2 points shrinks the physical space the data occupies. This ensures it fits comfortably within the existing column width both on screen and on the printed page.

Does exporting to PDF help identify the printing issue?

Yes, exporting or printing to a PDF is an excellent troubleshooting step. It generates a digital version of the exact print layout without wasting paper. If the PDF displays hash marks, you know the issue is with your scaling or column width settings in the worksheet, not a physical printer error.

Document & File Issues