How to add header and footer in Excel

How to Add a Header and Footer in Excel

Written by co-founder Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist.

Adding a header and footer in Excel is a mystery to some users.

Actually, some don’t even know that you can add a header and footer to an Excel document. (Don’t be surprised. A lot of people only see Excel as spreadsheet software and nothing more.)

In truth, it’s very easy to do so.

In this article, we’ll show you how to add a header and a footer to your Excel spreadsheet.

What is a header?

A header is a text or image found on the top of each page of a document.

Having a well-designed header can help elevate your content.

Adding a header in your documents will save you time from making templates as it will appear on every page of your document.

A well-thought header can get your audience engaged in the get-go. Engaging your reader is a priority if you want to be heard. And one of the effective ways to hook them is to have a great header in your reports and/or articles.

A header serves as a teaser to get your audience’s attention and continue reading more.

At the same time, you can also use the header to insert a watermark on your spreadsheet.

How to insert a header in Excel

Inserting a header in Excel is simple.

First, go to the ‘Insert’ tab on the tab list.

Then, click the ‘Header & Footer’ icon found on the ‘Text’ group on the Ribbon.

The workbook view will now change to the ‘Page Layout’ view.

By default, the cursor is on the center section of the header. But if you would like to write a header on either left or right section, just click on them.

What is a footer?

A footer is just like a header but on the bottom of every page of a document.

Effective footer is just as important and effective as a header. 

Consider including the following to make your footer more effective:

• Contact information
• Link for CTAs
• Links to your other articles
• Links to some of your email subscription option
• Feedback link
• Page number
• Link to your homepage

How to insert a footer in Excel

To insert a footer, follow the initial steps in inserting a header:

• Click ‘Insert’ from the tab list
• Click the ‘Header & Footer’ icon on the ‘Text’ group

From there, click the ‘Go to Footer’ icon on the ‘Navigation’ group on the Ribbon.

Once you click that, you will be directed to the footer part of the page.

Like the header, the cursor is on the center section of the footer by the default. If you would like to insert a footer on the left or right section, just click on them.

Header & Footer Elements

As you’ve noticed, there are preset elements you can use on your header and/or footer.

Here’s a list of the elements you can insert:

• Page number
• Number of pages
• Current date
• Current time
• File path
• File name
• Sheet name
• Picture

To use one, all you have to do is click its icon.

For example, you would like to insert page numbers on your sheets.

To do that, click the ‘Page Number’ icon on the ‘Header & Footer Elements’ group.

After that, a “&[Page]” will appear on the section of the header or footer.

If you would like to see how it looks, simply click on anywhere on your sheet that’s not on the header or footer.

Take note that you have to have some content on your sheet before some of the header-footer elements are displayed.

You can also click on the ‘Header’ or ‘Footer’ icons on the left side of the ‘Design’ tab to see some of the preset headers and footers.

Once you click on the icons, you’ll see a list of headers/footers you can insert.

Formatting the header/footer

It’s possible to format your header/footer especially the font size, color, and style.

This is also an alternate way to insert a header or footer.

To start, go the ‘Page Layout’ tab from the tab list.

Then, click the page setup dialogue launcher found on the bottom-right corner of the ‘Page Setup’ group.

On the window, click the ‘Header/Footer’ tab.

Then, click the appropriate boxes whether you want to format the header or the footer.

Some of the buttons are familiar since they represent header and footer elements.

Let’s say you would like to change the font, font style, and font size, click the font icon on the window.

You’ll then see another window open where you can change the font of your header/footer.

Wrapping things up…

Headers and footers are a staple function if you’re working on a multiple-paged article, newsletter, and worksheets.

If you’re confused along the way, just fire up your Excel and try to follow this guide step-by-step.