Excel doesn’t print empty cells on its own, so to print an empty grid in Excel 2013 you need two things: a print area covering the empty cells, and gridlines turned on for printing. Select the range, choose Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area, then tick Gridlines > Print in the Sheet Options group and print. Office 2013 reached end of support on April 11, 2023; the steps are the same in current Excel.
Quick Answer
Select the empty range > Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area > tick Gridlines: Print > File > Print.
Steps to Print an Empty Grid
- Select the cells you want on the page, for example A1:H40.
- Click Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area.
- In Sheet Options, tick Print under Gridlines.
- Choose File > Print and check the preview.
- Adjust column widths and row heights first if you want larger boxes.
Gridlines vs. Borders
| Option | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Printed gridlines | Thin grey lines | Quick blank grids |
| All Borders (Home tab) | Solid black lines you control | Forms and tables that must look crisp |
| Thick Outside Borders | Heavy outer edge | Framing a grid |
Make Square Boxes
Switch to View > Page Layout, where column widths and row heights are shown in inches or centimetres, and set both to the same value for square cells.
For longer sheets, see printing on legal paper in Excel.
Troubleshooting
- Blank page prints: The print area isn’t set, or it was cleared. Set it again.
- Grid spills onto extra pages: Use Fit to 1 page wide in Page Layout > Scale to Fit. See preventing extra pages.
- Printing only part of a sheet: See printing part of a spreadsheet.
- Don’t want lines at all: See printing without cell borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t Excel print empty cells normally?
Excel prints only the used range, so empty areas are skipped unless you set a print area.
Can I save the empty grid as a PDF?
Yes. In File > Print, choose a PDF printer, or use Save As > PDF.
Does this work in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets can print gridlines too, but you may need to add borders to show empty cells.
Summary
- Select the empty range.
- Set it as the print area.
- Tick Gridlines: Print.
- Preview and print.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.