How to Insert a Page Break in Excel Easily and Correctly

Knowing how to insert a page break in Excel is essential when preparing spreadsheets for printing. Page breaks control where one printed page ends and the next begins, helping you organize data neatly across multiple pages. Without proper page breaks, Excel may split tables awkwardly or print data in an unreadable format.

This article explains what page breaks are, why they matter, and how to insert, adjust, and remove them in Excel.

1. Table of Contents

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   What a Page Break Is in Excel

A page break defines where Excel starts a new printed page.

Page breaks help you:

• Control printed layout
• Prevent rows or columns from being cut off
• Improve readability of printed sheets
• Organize large datasets into sections

Excel uses both automatic and manual page breaks.

2. Switch to Page Break Preview View

Page Break Preview makes page breaks easy to see.

To access Page Break Preview:

• Open your Excel worksheet
• Click the View tab
• Select Page Break Preview

Blue lines show page boundaries.

3. Insert a Page Break Using the Page Layout Tab

This is the most common method.

To insert a page break:

• Select the row below where you want the break
• Or select the column to the right of where the break should appear
• Click the Page Layout tab
• Choose Breaks
• Select Insert Page Break

Excel adds a manual page break.

4. Insert a Page Break Using Right-Click Option

This method is quick and convenient.

Steps include:

• Right-click the row number or column letter
• Choose Insert Page Break

The break is applied instantly.

5. Move a Page Break Manually

You can reposition page breaks easily.

To move a page break:

• Go to Page Break Preview
• Click and drag the blue line to the desired location
• Release to apply changes

This allows precise control over print layout.

6. Remove a Page Break in Excel

Page breaks can be removed when no longer needed.

To remove a page break:

• Select the row or column near the break
• Go to Page Layout
• Click Breaks
• Choose Remove Page Break

Automatic page breaks cannot be removed individually.

7. Reset All Page Breaks

If your layout becomes confusing, reset everything.

To reset page breaks:

• Go to the Page Layout tab
• Click Breaks
• Select Reset All Page Breaks

Excel returns to default print settings.

8. Insert Page Breaks Using Page Setup

Page Setup gives more print control.

Useful options include:

• Adjusting margins
• Setting orientation
• Scaling the sheet
• Viewing page breaks in Print Preview

Page breaks work best when combined with proper page setup.

9. Preview Before Printing

Always preview to confirm page breaks.

To preview:

• Click File
• Select Print
• Review page layout

Previewing prevents wasted paper and ink.

10. Common Page Break Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

• Adding too many manual page breaks
• Forgetting to preview before printing
• Ignoring column widths and row heights
• Mixing manual and automatic breaks excessively

Simple layouts print better.

Also Read: How to Insert a Footer in Excel Easily and Correctly