Printing Problems

How to Print an Entire Excel Workbook on One Side of the Paper

Muhammad Talha Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to print an entire multi-sheet workbook single-sided, but the application applies duplex settings per worksheet, resulting in mixed single and double-sided prints.

How to Print an Entire Excel Workbook on One Side of the Paper

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a full Excel workbook containing multiple worksheets on only one side of the paper.
Observed behavior: Selecting 'Print Entire Workbook' does not universally override individual sheet print configurations, causing some sheets to print double-sided.

Before you start

Verify that your printer driver itself is not enforcing duplex printing by default, and ensure your printer has enough paper to accommodate a single-sided print job for the entire workbook.

Solution 1Recommended

Export the Workbook to PDF and Print

The most reliable workaround for enforcing a universal print setting across all worksheets is to export the file to PDF first.

Because Excel handles print configurations on a per-worksheet basis, the spooler often treats a multi-sheet print job as separate tasks. Converting the file to a PDF creates a continuous document that a PDF reader can easily print on one side of the paper.

Export to PDF

Open your workbook in Excel, navigate to File > Export, and click on Create PDF/XPS Document to save the workbook as a PDF file.

Open the PDF File

Locate the newly created PDF on your computer and open it using your preferred PDF reader, such as WPS PDF or your default browser.

Print the PDF

Click on File > Print within the PDF reader. In the print dialog, uncheck any 'Print on both sides of paper' options, select single-sided printing, and click Print.

Best Practice: Using a PDF reader bypasses Excel's sheet-by-sheet print rules, ensuring 100% compliance with your chosen printer settings.

Solution 2

Combine All Worksheets into a Single Sheet

If you cannot export to PDF, manually combining your data into one continuous worksheet will allow you to apply a single print layout.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Printing

If Excel's per-sheet print limitations are slowing down your workflow, consider using WPS Office. It provides an intuitive interface, built-in PDF conversion, and powerful spreadsheet tools without the heavy licensing fees.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install and Open: Run the installer, then launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel workbook.
3. Export and Print: Use the integrated PDF export tool or the straightforward print menu to quickly print your document on a single side of the paper.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) and CSV formatsBuilt-in 'Export to PDF' feature for hassle-free printingLightweight application that uses fewer system resourcesCompletely free core spreadsheet and document features

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel print some sheets double-sided even when I select Print Entire Workbook?

Excel natively saves print configurations, such as margins and duplex settings, on a per-worksheet basis. The 'Print Entire Workbook' command simply sends all sheets to the printer in sequence, but it respects the individual duplex settings saved to each sheet rather than applying a universal override.

Can I group worksheets to change the print settings for all of them at once?

You can group sheets by holding the Shift key and selecting the sheet tabs, then changing the print settings in the Page Setup menu. However, depending on your specific printer driver, the print spooler might still process the grouped sheets as separate print jobs, causing some to revert to double-sided.

Is Microsoft planning to fix this workbook printing behavior?

This is currently functioning as designed due to how Excel interacts with print spoolers. Microsoft encourages users who want a workbook-wide print override feature to submit a feature request through the official Excel feedback portal.

Document & File Issues