Google Sheets rows default to 21 pixels, which fits a single line of text but not much else. Whether you need to make rows taller to show more content, set a consistent height across your whole sheet, or auto-fit rows to match their data, this guide covers every method available.

All the methods below work the same way for column width. Anywhere you see “row,” the same steps apply to columns.

How To Change Google Sheets Row Height with a Mouse (Click and Drag)

If you want to change the height of one row or a few adjacent rows, the click-and-drag method is the fastest way to do it.

Suppose you have a data set as shown below and you want to increase the height of the second row.

Google Sheets dataset showing the second row selected for height adjustment

 

Below are the steps to do this:

  1. Place your cursor on the bottom edge of the row header you want to resize. The cursor will change to a double-pointed arrow.Cursor placed on the bottom edge of a row header in Google Sheets ready to drag
  2. Click and hold the left mouse button
  3. Drag down to increase the height, or drag up to decrease it
  4. Release the mouse button when the row is the height you want

Dragging a row border to change row height in Google Sheets

You can use this same method for multiple rows. Select all the rows you want to resize first, then drag any one of the selected row borders. All selected rows will be set to the same height.

How To Change the Height of Multiple Rows at Once

To resize several rows to the same height in one step:

  1. Click the first row number you want to resize
  2. Hold Shift and click the last row number to select a range, or hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) to select non-adjacent rows
  3. Right-click any of the selected row numbers and choose Resize rows
  4. Select Specify row height, enter your desired pixel value, and click OK

All selected rows will be set to the same height regardless of their previous sizes.

Auto-Fit Row Height

When a cell contains more text than the current row height can show, part of the content gets cut off. Auto-fit resizes each row to exactly match the content inside it, so nothing is hidden.

There are two ways to do this.

Autofit Using Double-Click (Shortcut)

Below are the steps to auto-fit row height with a double-click:

  1. Select the rows you want to auto-fit
  2. Bring your cursor to the bottom edge of any selected row header. The cursor will change to a double-pointed arrow.
  3. Double-click your mouse

Double-clicking a row border to auto-fit row height in Google Sheets

This resizes each selected row individually to fit its own content, so rows with more text will be taller than rows with less. It also works in reverse: if a row has more space than its content needs, the double-click will shrink it down.

Auto-Fit Using the Resize Rows Dialog Box

You can also auto-fit row height using the built-in Resize Rows dialog:

  1. Select the rows you want to resize
  2. Right-click on the selected rows
  3. Click Resize rowsResize Rows option in the Google Sheets right-click context menu
  4. Select Fit to dataFit to data option selected in the Google Sheets Resize Rows dialog box
  5. Click OK

You can also access this dialog from the top menu: go to Format โ†’ Rows โ†’ Resize rows. This opens the same dialog and is useful if you prefer navigating by menu rather than right-clicking.

Related reading: How to Autofit Column Width in Google Sheets

Resize Rows by Specifying an Exact Height in Pixels

When you want all rows to be the same height regardless of their content, specify an exact pixel value. This is useful for formatted reports, dashboards, or any sheet where visual consistency matters.

The default Google Sheets row height is 21 pixels.

Below are the steps to set an exact row height:

  1. Select the rows you want to resize
  2. Right-click on the selected rows
  3. Click Resize rowsResize Rows option in the Google Sheets right-click context menu
  4. Select Specify row height
  5. Enter the pixel value you wantSpecify row height dialog box in Google Sheets with a custom pixel value entered
  6. Click OK

All selected rows will be set to the same height. To resize every row in the sheet at once, press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac) to select all rows before following the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you change the height of multiple rows in Google Sheets?

Select the rows you want to resize by clicking the first row number, then holding Shift and clicking the last. Right-click any selected row number, choose Resize rows, select Specify row height, enter your pixel value, and click OK. All selected rows will be set to the same height.

Can you change the row height for all rows in Google Sheets?

Yes. Press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac) to select all rows in the sheet, then right-click any row number and choose Resize rows. From there you can either specify an exact height or choose Fit to data to auto-fit every row to its content.

Is there a way to set the default row height in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets does not have a setting to change the default row height for new sheets. The default is 21 pixels. The closest option is to select all rows with Ctrl+A and set a specific height after opening the sheet. If you use a template, you can set the row heights in the template so they carry over each time.

What about column width? Can I resize columns the same way?

Yes, all the same methods apply to columns. Click and drag a column border to resize manually, double-click to auto-fit, or right-click a column header and choose Resize column to enter an exact width. For more detail, see our guide on how to autofit column width in Google Sheets.

What is the default row height in Google Sheets?

The default row height is 21 pixels. To restore a row to the default, right-click the row number, choose Resize rows, select Specify row height, enter 21, and click OK.

How do I auto-fit row height in Google Sheets?

Select the rows you want to resize, then either double-click the bottom edge of any selected row header, or right-click and choose Resize rows โ†’ Fit to data. Both methods resize each row to fit its content exactly.

Can I resize rows using the Format menu instead of right-clicking?

Yes. Go to Format โ†’ Rows โ†’ Resize rows in the top menu. This opens the same dialog box as the right-click method.

Why is my row height not changing in Google Sheets?

The most common reason is that the rows are not properly selected before resizing. Make sure you click the row number (the gray numbered header on the left side), not a cell inside the row. If the sheet is protected, row resizing may also be restricted by the sheet permissions.

Wrapping Up

There are four ways to adjust row height in Google Sheets: click and drag for a quick manual resize, double-click to auto-fit a row to its content, the Resize Rows dialog for exact pixel control, and Ctrl+A to apply changes across every row in the sheet at once. The same methods work for resizing column width too.

For more Google Sheets formatting guides, check out the related tutorials below.

Related Google Sheets tutorials: