What Is AutoFit In Google Sheets?
The AutoFit in Google Sheets helps users to resize or align the cells in a dataset, so that the cell values are clearly visible. The alignment actually helps in printing data in a single page.
With the Google Sheets AutoFit feature, we can avoid the manual altering of the column-width or the row-height and not miss displaying any data.
For example, we have the data given below with too much gaps in the columns. Let us align the column -width using the AutoFit Google Sheets feature.
Select the worksheet and double-click any one of the columns border, to get the output shown below.
We can see the difference between the initial dataset and the AutoFit feature applied dataset, where there is space saving, visible data, etc.
Key Takeaways
- The Autofit in Google Sheets is a feature helps align the cell values in a clearer and user-readable way. It displays the entire data clearly, which helps avoid errors.
- We can press ‘Ctrl+A’ to select the entire worksheet and use any of the AutoFit methods we learnt to align the cell values.
- If a cell’s content in our dataset is hidden due to the limited size, the AutoFit Google Sheets Feature will align the cell size according to the cell content so that it can be seen always. Again, when the cell value is less than the cell size, and we want it to fit exactly, this feature can also decrease the cell size. In other words, we can expand or shrink the columns accordingly to fit them to the inserted data.
- In the “Resize columns window”, we must always choose the “Fit to data” option. A few reasons why we must select are because,
- We do not know the column-width or row-height in pixels.
- When we enter data in future or update the dataset, then the column must again be realigned.
- The maximum value is 100, and if the data entered exceed the 100 pixels, then once again most of the data will be hidden.
- When we use the “Resize columns” option we get the option with the column names such as column A or column E or columns B – E base on the selected single column or multiple columns.
Top Methods For AutoFit In Google Sheets
The top methods to AutoFit in Google Sheets are,
- Google Sheets AutoFit with double click.
- Google Sheets Autofit with ‘Fit to Data’ Option.
Method #1 – Google Sheets AutoFit with double click.
The steps to apply the Google Sheets AutoFit with double click are,
Step 1: Select the Column to resize, here column A.
Step 2: When we hover around the column header’s borders. We find a parallel bar, here, in-between columns A and B, as shown below.
Step 3: Double-click the parallel bars. It is to resize the column as per the inserted text, as shown below.
The bars remain in its original place indicating that the column is resized, accordingly.
Method #2 – Google Sheets Autofit with ‘Fit to Data’ Option.
The steps to apply the Google Sheets AutoFit with ‘Fit to Data’ Option are,
Step 1: Select the Column to resize.
Step 2: Right-click the column A. Select the “Resize column” option, as shown below.
Step 3: The “Resize column A” window appears, select the “Fit to data” option, as shown below.
Step 4: Click “OK” to resize the columns, as shown below.
Examples
We will consider some AutoFit in Google Sheets examples to understand the feature in a better way with multiple datasets.
Example #1 – Autofit cell width to text in Google Sheets.
The example given below consists of Student details, their names, grades and scores. We see that the data in Columns B and C are not visible as the column-width is not aligned properly. Let us Autofit cell width to text in Google Sheets.
The procedure to Autofit cell width to text in Google Sheets are as follows:
Select columns B and C and double-click on the parallel bars next to column C header, as shown below.
We will get the following resized column dataset.
The data is clearly visible in the Columns B and C, and the parallel bars seen indicate that, the columns were resized from that position.
Example #2 – Expand columns to fit text in Google Sheets.
Consider the data of Example 1 again. The example given below consists of Student details, their names, grades and scores. We see that the data in Columns B is not visible as the column-width is not aligned properly. Let us Expand columns to fit text in Google Sheets.
The steps to Expand columns to fit text in Google Sheets is:
Step 1: Hover around the Column B to view the parallel bars in-between columns B and C, as shown below.
Step 2: Drag the parallel bar toward the right, to expand the column as required, to get the following resized dataset.
Example #3 – Shrink columns to fit text in Google Sheets.
The example given below consists of employee details, their names, ID, date of joining, department and salary. We see that the data in Columns C is expanded more than required as the column-width is not aligned properly. Let us Shrink columns to fit text in Google Sheets.
The steps to Shrink columns to fit text in Google Sheets are as follows:
Step 1: Hover around the Column C to view the parallel bars in-between columns C and D, as shown below.
Step 2: Double-click the parallel bars to get the following resized column dataset where the parallel bars seen indicate that, the column C shrinked from that position.
Example #4 – Autofit headers in Google Sheets.
Consider the data of Example 3 again. The example given below consists of Student details, their names, grades and scores. We see that the data in all the columns are clearly visible as the it aligns the column-width for the text properly.
Sometimes the data will be visible when we expand or shrink the columns to fit to text. However, the headers might not be clear, as seen in this example where the columns B, D and E headers are not visible. Instead of using the wrap text option, let us Autofit headers in Google Sheets.
The steps to Autofit headers in Google Sheets along with the text are as follows:
Step 1: Select the Columns B to E, to resize the headers.
Step 2: Right-click and select the “Resize columns B-E” option, as shown below.
[Note: This option appeared as we have selected multiple columns.]
Step 3: The “Resize columns B – E” window appears, select the “Fit to data” option, as shown below.
[Note: Always choose “Fit to data” as we won’t know the column-width or row-height in pixels.]
Step 4: Click “OK” to resize the columns, as shown below.
The data is clearly visible along with the headers in columns B, D and E.
Important Things To Note
- When we expand or shrink columns, ensure to check the entire dataset, if is more than what we can see in a worksheet, meaning, if it is a large dataset.
- If the column-width or row-height is set to 0, we cannot see the cell, i.e., basically, it will be hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is an alternate way where we can select the entire worksheet and double-click on any of the column’s parallel bars. Then, there is perfect alignment of the entire worksheets data. There is no need to check, expand or shrink a single column or multiple columns, one-by-one.
For example, the data given below consists of employee data with name, age, gender and location.
First, select the entire worksheet by clicking the rectangular are below the cell address.
Double-click any of the columns parallel bars.
We will get the following output where the data and the headers are AutoFit to text.
Yes, we can use the Format Painter option to AutoFit in Google Sheets.
For example, if we have applied any of the AutoFit methods for a cell, then using the format painter option, select the cell formatting and paste it to the new cell to AutoFit. Along with the formatting and font styles, the column-width and the row-height gets copied and pasted.
a. An advantage of AutoFit in Google Sheets is that it saves time, and we can view the data in the cell clearly.
b. A disadvantage of AutoFit in Google Sheets is that when we update the data and if it is more than the column-width then we must realign the columns every time.
Download Template
This article must help understand AutoFit in Google Sheets with its formulas and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.
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