Printing Problems

How to Set Multiple Print Areas in Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 875 views

Question details

The user wants to learn how to print separate, nonadjacent ranges of cells from a single worksheet using multiple print areas.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing specific, non-continuous sections of a large worksheet without printing the entire document or unwanted data between the ranges.
Observed behavior: Setting multiple distinct areas for printing so that only the selected nonadjacent ranges are sent to the printer.

Before you start

Ensure your printer is properly connected and that you have identified the specific nonadjacent cell ranges you need to print.

Solution 1Recommended

Using the Ctrl Key to Set Multiple Print Areas

Select multiple nonadjacent ranges using the Ctrl key and set them as your print area via the Page Layout tab.

Select the first range

Click and drag your mouse to highlight the first range of cells you want to print in your worksheet (for example, A1:C60).

Select additional nonadjacent ranges

Hold down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard, then click and drag to select your second nonadjacent range, such as F1:H60. Repeat this process while holding the Ctrl key for any additional areas you want to include.

Set the print area

Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top Excel ribbon. Click on 'Print Area' in the Page Setup group, and select 'Set Print Area' from the drop-down menu.

Printing Output: Excel inherently treats multiple nonadjacent print areas as distinct sections, meaning each selected print area will automatically be printed on a separate page.

Print Efficiently with WPS Office

Set Multiple Print Areas Easily in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides a highly compatible and intuitive interface to manage print areas. You can easily select nonadjacent ranges and print them precisely as you need without complicated settings.

1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the worksheet you want to print.
2. Select multiple cell ranges: Highlight your first cell range, then hold the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard to select additional nonadjacent ranges.
3. Apply the print area: Go to the 'Page Layout' tab, click on 'Print Area', and choose 'Set Print Area'. Each selected region will be queued for printing.

100% compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) file formatsIntuitive Page Layout tools for quick and easy print area setupFree, lightweight, and fast alternative for seamless spreadsheet management

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add another print area to an existing one?

Yes. Once you have a print area set, you can highlight a new range of cells, navigate to the Page Layout tab, click 'Print Area', and select 'Add to Print Area'. This appends the new range to your current printing queue.

Why are my multiple print areas printing on separate pages?

Excel treats each disconnected print area as a separate entity, so it naturally places them on different pages. If you need them on the same page, consider hiding the rows or columns between the ranges before printing, or copy and paste them as linked pictures into a new sheet.

How do I clear the print areas I just set?

To remove the print boundaries, go to the Page Layout tab on the ribbon, click 'Print Area', and select 'Clear Print Area' from the drop-down menu. This will reset the worksheet to print entirely.

Document & File Issues