Forum Discussion
Weird Printing in Excel
Hello knowledgable peeps! I have an excel spreadsheet - been using for years - its 6 sheets printed double sided from within a larger sheet so I know how to do all the page margin stuff, scaling etc...
Below may cause the issue:
- Hidden Content Beyond the Break
Even if it’s not visible, Excel may detect:
- A stray cell with formatting
- A formula or comment
- A non-empty cell far down or far right
Try this:
- Press Ctrl + End to jump to the last cell Excel thinks is “active.”
- If it’s beyond your expected range, clear all rows/columns past your intended print area:
Select rows/columns → Right-click → Delete
- Print Area Not Explicitly Set
If the print area isn’t locked down, Excel may default to printing the entire used range—even if it’s just one rogue cell.
To fix:
- Go to Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area
- Select only the range you want printed
- Manual Page Breaks vs. Automatic
Sometimes manual page breaks conflict with scaling or margin settings, causing Excel to split content unexpectedly.
Try:
- Removing all manual breaks:
Page Layout > Breaks > Reset All Page Breaks - Then reapply scaling and margins
- Printer-Specific Quirks
Different printers interpret margins and scaling differently.
- Try printing to PDF first to see if the issue persists
- Or test on a different printer