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Fix Excel Borders and Underlines Becoming Too Thick in PDF
Question details
Users report that underlined text and cell borders in their workbooks become significantly thicker after converting the file to a PDF format.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting, saving, or printing an existing Excel workbook to a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- Cell borders and underlines render much heavier or thicker in the generated PDF than they originally appeared in the Excel workbook, regardless of whether 'Print to PDF' or 'Save as PDF' is used.
Ensure your Microsoft 365 suite is updated to the latest version, as PDF rendering glitches are frequently addressed in official software patches.
Update Microsoft 365 and Test PDF Export Methods
Installing the latest Office updates and testing different built-in PDF engines can often bypass known rendering bugs.
Microsoft periodically changes how Excel processes and saves files as PDFs. Keeping your software up-to-date ensures you have the latest PDF engine fixes. You should also test both the native 'Save As' function and the virtual 'Print to PDF' driver, as they use different rendering methods.
Open Excel, navigate to File > Account, click on 'Update Options', and select 'Update Now'. Allow the process to complete and restart Excel.
Open your workbook, go to File > Save As, choose 'PDF' from the file format dropdown menu, and click Save to check if the borders render correctly.
Alternatively, go to File > Print, select 'Microsoft Print to PDF' from the Printer dropdown list, and click Print to generate the file.
Change Border Color and Style Settings
Adjusting the line color away from the default automatic setting or changing the border style can serve as an effective temporary workaround.
Contact Microsoft Support for Product Fixes
If the issue persists across all files and export methods, escalating the problem to official support is necessary to log the bug.
Export Spreadsheets to PDF Flawlessly with WPS Office
If you are continuously struggling with Microsoft Excel PDF rendering bugs like thick borders and underlines, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free Office suite that includes a flawless built-in PDF converter, ensuring your spreadsheets look exactly the same in PDF format as they do on your screen.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel (.xlsx) workbook.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click on the 'Menu' button, select 'Export to PDF', and save your document with perfectly rendered borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel borders look much thicker in the PDF than on screen?
This is typically caused by the PDF rendering engine misinterpreting Excel's default line weights during conversion. It can happen if the software version has a bug or if the virtual PDF printer driver scales up line thicknesses incorrectly.
Is there a difference between 'Save as PDF' and 'Print to PDF'?
Yes. 'Save as PDF' uses Microsoft Office's native conversion engine, whereas 'Print to PDF' utilizes the Windows virtual printer driver. When one method yields thick borders, trying the other can sometimes resolve the issue.
Can changing the border color fix the PDF thickness issue?
In many cases, yes. Excel's 'Automatic' line color can sometimes trigger the bug. Manually changing the border color to a specific shade (like dark grey) or selecting a different line style in the Format Cells menu can force the PDF to render the weight accurately.
