Printing Problems

How to Print Only Selected Cells in Microsoft Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to print a specific selected range of cells in an Excel spreadsheet without printing the entire worksheet.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a specific portion of a spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: The user needs to isolate and print only the highlighted cells instead of outputting all the worksheet data.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure your printer is properly connected and that you have clearly identified the exact range of data cells you wish to print.

Solution 1Recommended

Print the Current Selection via Print Settings

Use this quick method when you only need to print a specific cell range once without saving the print area for future use.

This approach leverages the default print dialog options in Excel, allowing you to quickly isolate highlighted data right before sending it to the printer.

Highlight the cells

Click and drag your mouse over the specific range of cells you want to print.

Open Print Settings

Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P, or navigate to File > Print.

Choose Print Selection

Under the Settings section in the print menu, click the first dropdown (which usually says 'Print Active Sheets') and change it to 'Print Selection'.

Preview and Print

Review the print preview on the right side to ensure only your chosen cells appear, then click the 'Print' button.

Solution 2

Set a Print Area for Repeated Printing

This method is ideal if you frequently need to print the exact same section of your worksheet.

Print Easily with WPS Office

How to Print Selected Cells in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers a highly intuitive interface for managing your printing needs. You can easily select specific cells, set print areas, and preview your documents just like in Microsoft Excel.

1. Open your file: Launch WPS Office and open your spreadsheet document.
2. Highlight cells: Click and drag your mouse to select the specific cells you want to print.
3. Access Page Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab in the top ribbon, click 'Print Area', and choose 'Set Print Area'.
4. Open Print Dialog: Press Ctrl+P to open the print settings and ensure the preview matches your selected area.
5. Print: Click the 'Print' button to output your selected cell range.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Easily set and manage custom print areas for selected cells.Free, lightweight, and fast-loading office suite.Familiar user interface makes transitioning from Microsoft Office seamless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clear a print area in Excel once it is set?

To remove a previously set print area, go to the 'Page Layout' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Print Area', and select 'Clear Print Area' from the dropdown menu. This will reset the worksheet to print entirely.

Can I print multiple separate cell selections at the same time?

Yes. Hold down the 'Ctrl' key while selecting different, non-adjacent cell ranges. Once selected, press Ctrl+P and choose 'Print Selection'. Note that Excel will print each separate selection on a different page.

Why is Excel printing blank pages when I choose Print Selection?

This usually happens if the selected cells contain no data, or if your print scaling is pushing blank rows/columns onto an adjacent page. Always check the Print Preview screen and adjust your scaling options (like 'Fit Sheet on One Page') before printing.

Document & File Issues