When it comes to creating professional-looking reports or visually appealing charts in Excel, the placement and alignment of the title play a crucial role. A centered title adds a touch of elegance and improves the overall aesthetic appeal of your Excel documents.
Whether you are a seasoned Excel user or just starting out, you might have encountered situations where you wanted to center the title in your Excel reports or charts. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods to achieve this desired alignment effortlessly.
You’ll discover step-by-step instructions, tips, and best practices to center your titles accurately, regardless of the Excel version you are using.
By the end of this guide, you will have a thorough understanding of different techniques and be equipped with the knowledge to create visually captivating titles that enhance the professional look and feel of your Excel spreadsheets. So, let’s dive in and master the art of centering titles in Excel!
Centering the Title in Excel
Take a look at the following two methods along with a cautionary note on their usage. Additionally, I will share my preferred and recommended actions for centering titles in Excel spreadsheets.
Method 1: Merge and Center Title Text
Step 1: Select the Range of Cells
- To center the text item, select the range of cells where you want the title to be centered. Make sure the text you want to center is within one of these cells.
- Also, ensure that there is no other text in the selected range, as it will be overwritten. Microsoft Excel will retain the text in the top-left cell of the selected range and discard any other text present.
Step 2: Use the Merge and Center Button
- Click on the Merge and Center button located on the Home Tab, under the Alignment group. This button appears as two cells on top, a double-headed arrow, and two cells at the bottom.
- The selected text will be merged and centered within the selection. If you have selected multiple rows, the centered text will be at the bottom row.
- If you also want to align the text in the middle vertically, click on the Middle Align icon in the formatting toolbar. This will ensure the text is centered both horizontally and vertically.
CAUTION: While merging and centering text may seem convenient, we do not recommend merging cells in Excel worksheets unless it is for presentation purposes in a report or dashboard. Raw data should never be placed in merged cells.
Merged cells can cause issues when sorting data. Sorting becomes impossible if even a single merged cell is present. Therefore, you must unmerge the cells before sorting.
Additionally, data within an Excel Table cannot be merged. This is because merging cells in Excel affects sorting and filtering. In such cases, you need to convert the Excel table into a normal range before centering the text.
Method 2: Center Across Selection
In some older versions of Excel, the Merge and Center option may not be available in the ribbon. However, Method 2 can be used in both older and newer versions of Microsoft Excel, including Office 365. Unlike Method 1, this method does not merge cells; it only centers the text. Thus, the issue with merged cells is eliminated.
To center the text using the “Center Across Selection” method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select Multiple Cells
Select the multiple cells within which you want the text to be centered. The text should be present within this range.
Step 2: Format Cells
Click on Format Cells (Shortcut: Control + 1 on Windows). Alternatively, right-click on the selection and choose Format Cells from the Options menu.
Step 3: Alignment Settings
On the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Alignment tab. In the Text alignment dropdown under “Horizontal,” you will see the default alignment set to “General.” Select “Center Across Selection” from the dropdown menu. Refer to the screenshot below for clarity.
This method will center the text across the selection without merging the cells. It is the recommended approach for centering a title in Excel.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, learning how to center a title in Excel can greatly enhance the visual appeal and organization of your spreadsheet.
By using the simple techniques outlined in this blog post, you can easily align your title horizontally and vertically, ensuring it stands out prominently and provides clarity to your data. Remember to utilize the various formatting options available in Excel, such as merging cells and adjusting font size, to further customize the appearance of your title.
With these skills in your Excel toolkit, you’ll be well-equipped to create professional-looking spreadsheets that effectively communicate information to your audience. So go ahead, center those titles, and make your data shine!
