Related topics
×
Insert headers and footers
Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.
Insert headers and footers

Header and footer details

Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.

To save time, add headers and footers to several worksheets at the same time, make them different on the first page. And format, move, or delete them.

Add built-in elements in a header or footer

  • Instead of picking a built-in header or footer, you can just choose a built-in element. Many (Page Number, File Name, Current Date, etc.) are found in the ribbon.

  • For worksheets, you can work with headers and footers in Page Layout view.

  • For other sheet types, such as chart sheets, or for embedded charts, you can work with headers and footers in the Page Setup dialog box.

Insert built-in header and footer elements for a worksheet

  1. Click the worksheet to which you want to add specific header or footer elements.

  2. On the INSERT tab, in the Text group, click Header & Footer.

    Header & Footer option on the Insert tab

    Excel displays the worksheet in Page Layout view. You can also click Page Layout view Button image on the status bar to display this view.

  3. Click the left, center, or right header or footer text box at the top or the bottom of the worksheet page.

    Clicking any text box selects the header or footer and displays the HEADER AND FOOTER TOOLS, adding the DESIGN tab.

  4. On the DESIGN tab, in the Header & Footer Elements group, click the elements that you want.

Insert built-in header and footer elements for a chart

  1. Click the chart sheet or embedded chart to which you want to add a predefined header or footer.

  2. On the INSERT tab, in the Text group, click Header & Footer.

    Header & Footer option on the Insert tab

    Excel displays the Page Setup dialog box.

  3. Click Custom Header or Custom Footer.

  4. Use the buttons in the Header or Footer dialog box to insert specific header and footer elements.

    When you rest the mouse pointer on a button, a ScreenTip displays the name of the element that the button inserts.

Choose header and footer options

For worksheets, you can work with headers and footers in Page Layout view. For other sheet types, such as chart sheets, or for embedded charts, you can work with headers and footers in the Page Setup dialog box.

Choose the header and footer options for a worksheet

  1. Click the worksheet for which you want to choose header and footer options.

  2. On the INSERT tab, in the Text group, click Header & Footer.

    Header & Footer option on the Insert tab

    Excel displays the worksheet in Page Layout view. You can also click Page Layout view Button image on the status bar to display this view.

  3. Click the left, center, or right header or footer text box at the top or the bottom of the worksheet page.

    Clicking any text box selects the header or footer and displays the HEADER AND FOOTER TOOLS, adding the DESIGN tab.

  4. On the DESIGN tab, in the Options group, check one or more of the following:

    • To remove headers and footers from the first printed page, select the Different First Page check box.

To specify that the headers and footers on odd-numbered pages should differ from those on even-numbered pages, select the Different Odd & Even Pages check box.

  • To specify whether the headers and footers should use the same font size and scaling as the worksheet, select the Scale with Document check box.

To make the font size and scaling of the headers or footers independent of the worksheet scaling, which helps create a consistent display across multiple pages, clear this check box.

  • To make sure the header or footer margin is aligned with the left and right margins of the worksheet, select the Align with Page Margins check box.

    To set the left and right margins of the headers and footers to a specific value that is independent of the left and right margins of the worksheet, clear this check box.

Choose the header and footer options for a chart

  1. Click the chart sheet or embedded chart to which you want to add a predefined header or footer.

  2. On the INSERT tab, in the Text group, click Header & Footer.

    Header & Footer option on the Insert tab

    Excel displays the Page Setup dialog box.

  3. Select one or more of the following:

    • To remove headers and footers from the first printed page, select the Different first page check box.

To specify that the headers and footers on odd-numbered pages should differ from those on even-numbered pages, select the Different Odd & Even pages check box.

  • To specify whether the headers and footers should use the same font size and scaling as the worksheet, select the Scale with document check box.

To make the font size and scaling of the headers or footers independent of the worksheet scaling, which helps create a consistent display across multiple pages, clear the Scale with Document check box.

  • To guarantee that the header or footer margin is aligned with the left and right margins of the worksheet, select the Align with page margins check box.

    To set the left and right margins of the headers and footers to a specific value that is independent of the left and right margins of the worksheet, clear this check box.

Close headers and footers

To close the header and footer, you must switch from Page Layout view to Normal view.

  • On the VIEW tab, in the Workbook Views group, click Normal.

    On the View tab, click Normal

    You can also click Normal on the status bar.

Remove the header or footer text from a worksheet

  1. On the INSERT tab, in the Text group, click Header & Footer.

Header & Footer option on the Insert tab

Excel displays the worksheet in Page Layout view. You can also click Page Layout view Button image on the status bar to display this view.

  1. Click the left, center, or right header or footer text box at the top or the bottom of the worksheet page.

    Clicking any text box selects the header or footer and displays the HEADER AND FOOTER TOOLS, adding the DESIGN tab.

  2. Press Delete or Backspace.

    If you want to delete headers and footers for several worksheets instantly, select the worksheets, and then open the Page Setup dialog box.

    To delete all headers and footers instantly, on the Header/Footer tab, select (none) in the Header or Footer box.

In the previous videos, we created headers and footers for one worksheet.

To save time, you can also add them to several worksheets at the same time.

To create headers and footers for multiple worksheets in a workbook, click the tab for the first worksheet.

If you want the header or footer to appear on every worksheet, press and hold the Shift key and click the tab for the last worksheet in the workbook.

Or if you don’t want the header or footer to appear on every worksheet, press and hold the Ctrl key and click the tab for each additional worksheet you want to add the header or footer to.

In the header or footer, click the section you want to add something to.

Click the DESIGN tab, and click what you want to add, such as a Page Number.

And we can see that page numbers have been added to the header of every worksheet we selected.

You can create headers and footers that are different on the first page.

For example, you might put the file name and current date on the first page, and page numbers on subsequent pages.

On the DESIGN tab, click Different First Page, and add what you want in the header and footer of the first page.

I am using the Go to Footer button to apply the footer.

Now, we have a worksheet that has a header and footer only on the first page.

If this isn’t what you want, to add headers and footers to the second and subsequent pages, go to the second page, and add what you want.

If you add the page number to the header or footer of the second page, it’ll correctly display the number 2.

You can combine multiple elements and text in the same section of a header or footer.

Click the section you want to add elements and text to. In this example, I am typing the text "Workbook".

On the DESIGN tab, I am clicking File Name, typing the text "Sheet", and clicking Sheet Name.

Adding the sheet name to all worksheets in a workbook is especially helpful when you print them.

To format what is in your headers and footers, select what you want to change, and use the context sensitive menu to make changes, such as Font and Font Size.

You can move what is in your headers and footers.

Select what you want to move, press Ctrl+X to cut it, select the different section, and press Ctrl+V to paste it.

To delete what is in your headers or footers, select the contents in a section, and press Delete.

To completely remove headers and footers from a worksheet, delete all of the contents.

It is a good idea to preview your headers and footers before you print your worksheet, to make sure they look how you want them to look.

Click FILE and Print. You may need to click Zoom to Page to be able to read the headers and footers.

Click Next Page to see page two and subsequent pages.

Now, you have a pretty good idea about how to create headers and footers. Of course, there is always more to learn.

So, check out the course summary at the end, and best of all, explore Excel 2013 on your own.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×