How to Create Excel Header Row

As a user, it’s easy to get lost when tracking the meaning of values. What’s more, Excel Printouts don’t have row numbers or column letters. Learning how to create a header row in excel is the ultimate solution to save you hours of work. 

Usually, working with multiple pages can be confusing since they have no labels. Consequently, you are left wondering what each row represents in your spreadsheet. 

In this guide, you will learn how to add an excel header row by printing or freezing header rows. So, you needn’t get lost anymore when tracking the values of multiple pages.

Creating Header Rows in Excel

Let's dive into different methods to achieve creating header rows in Microsoft excel.

Method 1: Repeat Header Row across Multiple Spreadsheets by Printing

Assuming you want to print an excel document that spans different pages. However, on printing, you get the shock of your life that only one page has column titles. Relax. Change the settings in the Page Set-up to repeat the top header row in excel for every page. 

Here’s how to repeat header row in Excel:

1. First, open the Excel worksheet that needs printing.
2. Navigate to the Page Layout Menu.
3. In the Page Set-Up group, now click on Print Titles.
4. The Print title command is inactive or dim if you are editing a cell. What’s more, selecting a chart in the same worksheet also dims this command.
5. Alternatively, click on the Page Set-up arrow button below the Print Titles. 
6. Click on the Sheet tab from the Page Setup dialogue box.
   
   
7. Under the print titles section, identify the Rows to repeat at the top section
8. Ensure that you select only one workbook to repeat the headers. Otherwise, if you have several worksheets, the Rows to repeat at top and Columns to repeat at left section are invisible or greyed out.
9. Click in the Rows to repeat at the top section 
10. Now, click on the excel header row in your spreadsheet that you want to repeat
11. The Rows to repeat at top field formula is generated as shown below
    
    Alternatively,
    1. Click on the Collapse Dialog icon next to the Rows to repeat at the top section. 
       Now, this action minimizes the page setup window, and you can resume to the worksheet.
    2. Select the header rows that you want to repeat using the black cursor with one click
    3. After that, click the Collapse Dialog icon or ENTER to return to the Page Setup dialogue box. 

The selected rows are now displayed in the Rows to repeat at the top field, as shown below.

• Now, click on the Print Preview at the bottom of the Page Setup dialogue box. 
• If you are happy with the results, click OK.

The header rows will be repeated on all pages of your worksheet when you print as shown in the images below.
 

Good job! Now you are an expert on how to repeat header rows in excel.

Method 2: Freezing Excel Header Row

You can create header rows by freezing them. That way, the row headers stay in place as you scroll down the rest of the spreadsheet. 

• First, open your desired spreadsheet
• Next, click the View tab and select Freeze Panes
• Click on Freeze Top from the drop-down menu

Automatically, the top row, which is the row headings, is frozen as indicated by the grey gridlines. When you scroll down or up, the header rows remain in place.

Alternatively, 

• Open your excel spreadsheet
• Click on the row below your header rows
• Navigate to the View tab
• Click on Freeze Panes
• From the drop-down menu, select Freeze Panes

Excel automatically locks the header row by displaying a grey line on the gridlines. That way, your row headers remain visible in the entire spreadsheet. 

Method 3: Format your Spreadsheet as a Table with Header Rows

Creating header rows reduces confusion when trying to figure out what each row represents. To format your sheet as a table with row headings, here’s what you need to do:

• First, select all the data in your spreadsheet
• Next, click on the Home Tab
• Navigate to Format as Table ribbon. Select your desired style, either light, medium, or dark. 
• The Format As Table dialogue box appears
• Now, confirm whether the cells represent the right data for your table
• Make sure that you tick My table has headers checkbox
• Click OK.
  
  

You have successfully created a table that contains header rows. As a result, it is easy to handle data efficiently without getting confused or losing sight of valuable information.

How to Disable Excel Table Headers

Now that you have formatted your spreadsheet as a table with header rows, it’s possible to disable them. Here’s how: 

• First, open your spreadsheet.
• Next, click on the Design tab on the toolbar.
• Uncheck Header Row box under the Table Styles Option

This process turns off the visibility of row headers on your spreadsheet.

A spreadsheet that lacks header rows is bound to create confusion. What’s more, it leaves you second-guessing values and reduces data efficiency. Nevertheless, you can create excel header rows by repeating header, freezing, or formatting as tables when handling valuable data. Click here to learn how to merge cells in excel.