Wrap text in a cell

Microsoft Excel can wrap text so it appears on multiple lines in a cell. You can format the cell so the text wraps automatically, or enter a manual line break.

What do you want to do?

Wrap text automatically

Enter a line break

Wrap text automatically

1. In a worksheet, select the cells that you want to format.

2. On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click Wrap Text .

   

   Notes: 

   • Data in the cell wraps to fit the column width, so if you change the column width, data wrapping adjusts automatically.

   • If all wrapped text is not visible, it may be because the row is set to a specific height or that the text is in a range of cells that has been merged.

Adjust the row height to make all wrapped text visible

1. Select the cell or range for which you want to adjust the row height.

2. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format.

   

3. Under Cell Size, do one of the following:

   • To automatically adjust the row height, click AutoFit Row Height.

   • To specify a row height, click Row Height, and then type the row height that you want in the Row height box.

     Tip:  You can also drag the bottom border of the row to the height that shows all wrapped text.

Enter a line break

To start a new line of text at any specific point in a cell:

1. Double-click the cell in which you want to enter a line break.

   Tip:  You can also select the cell, and then press F2.

2. In the cell, click the location where you want to break the line, and press Alt+ Enter.