How to Make Gridlines Darker in Excel 2016: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

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Ever tried working on a large spreadsheet and found yourself squinting just to see those faint gray lines separating your cells? You’re not alone. Many Excel users wonder how to make gridlines darker in Excel 2016 to improve visibility and reduce eye strain.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you exactly how to darken Excel gridlines using different methods — including built-in options, cell border formatting, and theme color adjustments. Whether you’re a beginner or a power user, this tutorial will help you make your Excel sheets clearer, cleaner, and easier to read.

What Are Gridlines in Excel 2016?

Gridlines are the faint gray lines that divide your Excel worksheet into rows and columns. They act as visual guides to help you identify and organize data neatly within cells.

By default, gridlines are light gray, making them less obtrusive — which is great for presentation but not always ideal for visibility, especially on certain monitors or projectors.

Why Are Excel Gridlines So Light by Default?

Microsoft designed Excel gridlines to be subtle and non-distracting, allowing users to focus on data rather than borders. However, this light gray color can appear nearly invisible on:

  • Low-contrast monitors

  • Bright or glossy screens

  • Printed spreadsheets

If you work with large datasets or spend hours in Excel daily, making the gridlines darker can reduce eye fatigue and make navigation easier.

Can You Make Gridlines Darker in Excel 2016?

Yes — but with a catch.

Excel 2016 doesn’t include a one-click “darken gridlines” feature. However, you can achieve the same effect using several methods, including changing the gridline color, adding borders, or tweaking display settings.

Let’s go step by step through each method.

Method 1: Change the Default Gridline Color

This is the easiest and most direct way to make gridlines darker in Excel 2016.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open your Excel 2016 workbook.

  2. Go to the File tab in the ribbon.

  3. Click Options at the bottom-left corner.

  4. In the Excel Options dialog box, select Advanced from the left menu.

  5. Scroll down to the Display options for this worksheet section.

  6. Find the Gridline color setting.

  7. Click the color box next to “Gridline color.”

  8. Choose a darker gray or black from the color palette.

  9. Click OK to apply the changes.

Your worksheet gridlines will now appear darker and more visible.

Pro Tip: Use a mid-dark gray instead of pure black for a balanced look that doesn’t overpower your data.

Method 2: Use Cell Borders to Simulate Darker Gridlines

If you want total control over how dark or thick your lines appear, using borders is the way to go.

How to Add Borders for Darker Gridlines:

  1. Select the cells (or the entire worksheet using Ctrl + A).

  2. Go to the Home tab.

  3. In the Font group, click the Borders drop-down arrow (it looks like a window grid).

  4. Choose All Borders.

  5. Reopen the Borders menu and select Line Color → Black (or dark gray).

  6. Then choose Line Style if you prefer thicker lines.

  7. Apply the border again to reinforce the new color and style.

Now, you’ll see sharp, defined lines that mimic darker gridlines.

Line Type Appearance Best For
Thin black Subtle contrast Regular worksheets
Medium gray Balanced visibility Reports and summaries
Thick black Strong separation Print-ready data tables

Method 3: Adjust Excel Theme and Contrast Settings

Excel 2016 gridlines respond to your Office theme color. So changing the theme can indirectly make them darker.

To change your Excel theme:

  1. Go to File → Options → General.

  2. Under Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office, find Office Theme.

  3. Select Dark Gray or Black.

  4. Click OK.

When you switch to a darker theme, the contrast between the cells and gridlines increases, making the lines appear more visible.

Note: This doesn’t technically change the gridline color but improves their perceived visibility.

Method 4: Use Conditional Formatting for Custom Line Effects

Although not a conventional approach, conditional formatting can create a “pseudo-gridline” effect.

Here’s how:

  1. Select your data range.

  2. Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → New Rule.

  3. Choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format.

  4. Enter a formula such as =MOD(ROW(),2)=0 for alternating lines.

  5. Click Format → Fill → Light Gray (or desired color).

  6. Apply and click OK.

This method helps make rows or columns stand out, improving visual separation — even if gridlines remain light.

Method 5: Change Windows Display or Monitor Settings

Sometimes, it’s not Excel’s fault — it’s your monitor’s contrast or brightness.

Try these adjustments:

  • Reduce screen brightness for better gridline contrast.

  • Increase contrast through your display settings.

  • Check ClearType Text settings (Control Panel → Appearance → Display).

  • If available, switch to Dark Mode in Windows for reduced glare.

Small changes here can significantly improve Excel’s readability.

How to Print Darker Gridlines in Excel 2016

By default, gridlines don’t print as dark as they appear on screen. To fix this, you can enable and darken printed gridlines manually.

Steps to Print Gridlines:

  1. Go to the Page Layout tab.

  2. In the Sheet Options group, under Gridlines, check Print.

  3. To make them darker, instead of using default gridlines:

    • Apply All Borders with a dark color (from Method 2).

    • Then print your sheet again.

✅ This ensures your printed Excel sheet has crisp, visible lines — perfect for reports and presentations.

How to Restore Default Gridline Color

Want to go back to the original look?

To reset gridlines to default:

  1. Go to File → Options → Advanced.

  2. Scroll to Display options for this worksheet.

  3. Under Gridline color, choose Automatic.

  4. Click OK.

This restores the standard light gray color used by Excel 2016.

Bonus Tips for Better Spreadsheet Readability

Making gridlines darker is just one part of improving spreadsheet clarity. Try these additional tweaks:

  • Use alternating row colors (banding) for visual separation.

  • Increase zoom level for better visibility.

  • Use bold headers and freeze panes for easier navigation.

  • Avoid clutter — too many borders or fills can overwhelm users.

Remember: readability is about balance — contrast helps, but too much can distract.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overusing thick black borders: Makes your sheet look crowded.

  • Applying borders inconsistently: Causes visual confusion.

  • Forgetting to apply settings to all sheets: Each worksheet has its own gridline color.

  • Ignoring print preview: Always check before printing!

Troubleshooting Gridline Visibility Issues

If gridlines still appear too faint or missing, check the following:

Issue Possible Cause Solution
Gridlines not visible “Show gridlines” is unchecked Go to View → Gridlines and re-enable
Only partial gridlines showing Cell borders overriding gridlines Remove or recolor borders
Printed gridlines faint Print option not selected Enable Print Gridlines
Gridlines disappear when colored Cell fill hides them Remove fill or use borders instead

Advanced Customization: VBA Script for Darker Gridlines

For Excel power users, you can automate darker borders with a simple VBA macro.

VBA Script Example:

Sub Darken_Gridlines()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = ActiveSheet
With ws.Cells.Borders
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.Color = RGB(100, 100, 100) ' Dark gray color
.Weight = xlHairline
End With
End Sub

How to Run the Script:

  1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.

  2. Click Insert → Module.

  3. Paste the above code.

  4. Press F5 to run.

This macro automatically applies a thin dark-gray border across all cells — perfect for enhancing gridline visibility in seconds.

Conclusion

Making gridlines darker in Excel 2016 may seem like a small change, but it can dramatically improve your productivity and comfort. Whether you adjust the gridline color, apply borders, or use themes, each method offers a clear, readable view of your data.

Here’s what you’ve learned:

  • Excel 2016 allows you to change gridline colors under Options → Advanced.

  • Borders and themes can simulate darker lines effectively.

  • Printing darker gridlines requires using borders or gridline print options.

  • You can even automate the process with a VBA script.

Try a few methods to see which one fits your workflow best — and enjoy a clearer, easier-to-read Excel experience.

FAQs About Making Gridlines Darker in Excel 2016

1. How do I make gridlines thicker in Excel 2016?
You can’t change the thickness of default gridlines, but you can simulate thicker lines by applying borders with a thicker line style.

2. Why are my Excel gridlines missing?
Gridlines might be hidden. Go to View → Show → Gridlines to re-enable them.

3. Do darker gridlines affect printing?
Yes, if you use borders instead of gridlines, they print exactly as shown on screen.

4. Can I make gridlines a custom color like blue or green?
Absolutely! In File → Options → Advanced → Gridline color, select any color you prefer.

5. Are gridlines visible when I export to PDF?
Only if you’ve enabled Print Gridlines or used borders — otherwise, they may not appear.

Key Takeaways

Point Description
Gridlines can be customized via File → Options → Advanced.
Borders provide better control over line color and thickness.
️ For printing, use All Borders instead of relying on default gridlines.
⚙️ Themes and contrast adjustments can enhance visibility.
VBA automation can make the process quicker for multiple sheets.

In short: If you’ve been straining your eyes trying to read faint gridlines in Excel 2016, now you know multiple ways to make them stand out — with better contrast, sharper lines, and more readable data.

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