Adjusting column width is a frequent formatting task in Excel. Whether you want to fit more columns on the screen, create space for wider text, or improve your spreadsheet’s readability, controlling column width helps keep your workbook organized and easy to navigate.
If you’re wondering why someone would need a shortcut for this, you probably don’t use Excel very often — or your work rarely requires frequent column width adjustments. But if you adjust column widths multiple times a day, repeating manual steps wastes valuable time that could be better spent analyzing data or building reports.
This article shows three ways to adjust column width in Excel — from the traditional manual method to a faster, more efficient shortcut using QuickCel.
1) Using the Mouse: Drag to Adjust
The most straightforward way to change column width is by clicking and dragging the column border.
✅ How it works:
- Hover your mouse over the column border on the top of the sheet
- When the cursor changes to a horizontal resize icon, click and drag left or right to adjust width manually
⚠️ Drawbacks:
- Requires precise mouse positioning
- Can be slow if you need exact measurements
- Inconsistent results when dragging visually without numeric guidance
🕒 Time required: ~8–12 seconds per adjustment
💡 For occasional column width changes, this method is often sufficient.
2) Using Keyboard Shortcut: Alt + H + O + W
Excel’s built-in keyboard shortcut opens the column width dialog, letting you type in an exact number.
✅ How it works:
- Select the column(s)
- Press Alt, then H, then O, then W sequentially
- Enter the desired width (e.g., 1 to shrink or 8.11 to reset default)
- Press Enter
⚠️ Drawbacks:
- Requires multiple key presses for every adjustment
- You must know or remember the exact width values
- Slower if adjusting many columns repeatedly
🕒 Time required: ~6–10 seconds per adjustment
3) Using QuickCel: Ctrl + Shift + W — Fast Toggle Between Widths
QuickCel provides a fast, two-step toggle for column width adjustments:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + W once to reduce column width to 1 (compact)
- Press Ctrl + Shift + W again to reset it back to the default 8.11
✅ How it works:
| Current Width | Shortcut | New Width |
| Default (8.11) | Ctrl + Shift + W | Shrinks to 1 |
| 1 | Ctrl + Shift + W | Resets to 8.11 |
✅ Key Benefits:
- Instant toggle without menus or dialogs
- No need to remember specific width values
- Perfect for quickly shrinking or resetting column width while reviewing or formatting
- Ideal for repetitive formatting tasks
- 🕒 Time required: ~0 seconds (instant toggle)
What Else Can You Do with QuickCel?
QuickCel streamlines your Excel experience with dozens of powerful shortcuts designed to boost productivity:
Users save hours by avoiding repetitive mouse work and manual dialog navigation.
🧪 Try It for Yourself
If you’re looking for a more efficient way to work in Excel — without cluttering your sheets or repeating manual steps — QuickCel was built with you in mind.
Learn all about QuickCel’s features on our website: www.quickcel.software
👉 Download QuickCel and start transforming your workflow with simple, powerful keyboard shortcuts.