Text Box in Excel - A Complete Overview

The sample dataset contains sales of different accessories in different locations. The text box below showcases a summary of the dataset, displaying the highest and lowest sales.

text box added from shapes

What Is a Text Box?

A Text Box is a rectangular-shaped object that can hold and display texts within a specific area of a worksheet.

How to Add Text Box in Excel: 4 Methods

The dataset contains sales data of a company.

sales dataset

Method 1- Using the Text Box Option

Go to the Insert tab and select Text Box in Text.

text box option in the ribbon

The cursor will change.

Click an area in the worksheet to insert the text box and drag it down.

text box in excel

Enter the text in the text box.

text box added from the text box option

Using the Keyboard:

You can also press Alt, N, X . It will create a text box on the worksheet.

Method 2- Adding a Text Box from Shapes

Go to Insert >> Illustrations >> Shapes.
Select Text Box in Basic Shapes.

text box option in shapes

The cursor will change.

Click an area in the worksheet to insert the text box and drag it down.

dragging text box in spreadsheet

Enter the text in the text box.

text box added from shapes

Method 3 – Inserting Text Box from the ActiveX Controls in Excel

To insert an ActiveX Control Text Box:

Enable the Developer tab on the Ribbon.
Go to Developer >> Controls >> Insert.
Select Text Box (ActiveX Controls) in ActiveX Controls.

activex text box option

The cursor will change.

Click an area in the worksheet to insert the text box and drag it down.

dragging activex text box

The object is in design mode. To turn it off, click Developer >> Controls >> Design Mode.

design mode for activex text box

Enter the text in the text box.

activex text box added

Note

Use Shift+Enter to insert line breaks in ActiveX Control text boxes.

Adding a Multi-Line Text Box with a Scrollbar

Create an ActiveX Control text box first using the previous method.
Right-click the text box and select Properties.

activex text box properties

In the Properties window, select True as MultiLine.
Choose 1, 2, or 3 for ScrollBars. Here, 2 to create vertical scrollbars.

multiline and scrollbar options for activex text box

Enter your text. The scrollbars will be displayed in the text box.

activex text box with scrollbar

Method 4 – Using a VBA to Add Multiple Text Boxes in Excel

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Go to Developer >> Code >> Visual Basic.

opening visual basic window

Select Insert >> Module.

inserting module in vba

Insert the following code in the module.

Sub InsertMultipleTextBoxes()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Dim textBox As Shape
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim numTextBoxes As Integer
    Dim textArray() As String

    ' Set the worksheet where you want to insert the text boxes
    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("4.1 VBA Multiple Box") ' Replace "4.1 VBA Multiple Box" with your actual sheet name

    ' Set the number of text boxes you want to insert
    numTextBoxes = 3 ' Change this to the desired number
    
    ' Array of different texts for each text box
    textArray = Split("Sioux City has the highest television sales,Stony Brook has the highest mobile sales,Green Bay has the highest monitor sales", ",")

    ' Loop to insert multiple text boxes
    For i = 1 To numTextBoxes
        ' Insert a text box
        Set textBox = ws.Shapes.AddTextbox(Orientation:=msoTextOrientationHorizontal, _
                                          Left:=50 + (i - 1) * 200, Top:=230, Width:=150, Height:=50)
        
        ' Set the text inside the text box
        textBox.TextFrame.Characters.Text = textArray(i - 1)
        textBox.TextEffect.FontSize = 12
        textBox.Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(0, 0, 255)
    Next i
End Sub

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Press F5 to run the code.

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Note

Use the same code without a loop to create a single text box:

Sub InsertTextBox()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Dim textBox As Shape
    
    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("4. VBA") ' Replace "4. VBA" with your actual sheet name
    
    Set textBox = ws.Shapes.AddTextbox(Orientation:=msoTextOrientationHorizontal, _
                                      Left:=60, Top:=230, Width:=250, Height:=80)
    
    textBox.TextFrame.Characters.Text = "Total Sales by Store:" & vbNewLine & "Green Bay has the highest total sales with $50,960, followed by Sioux City with $41,614." & vbNewLine & "Rock Island has the lowest total sales at $14,628."
    textBox.Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(0, 0, 255)
End Sub

How to Format Text Boxes in Excel

1. Changing Shapes and Editing Points

Click the text box and go to Shape Format.
Select Shape Format >> Insert Shapes >> Edit Shape >> Change Shape.

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The selected text box will change.

text box shape changed

Change Edit Points:

Click the edge of the text box. The mouse cursor will display a pointed plus sign.

selecting a text box

Select Shape Format >> Insert Shapes >> Edit Shape >> Edit Points.

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Click and drag the edge points to move the edges and change shape manually.

changing shapes manually with edit points

2. Changing Shape Styles

Select the text box and go to the Shape Format tab.
Select a style in Shape Styles.

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Access Quick Styles by clicking the downward arrow.

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Click a style.

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The text box will change. Here, Subtle Effect- Black, Dark-1 was selected.

changing style of text box

3. Changing the Fill Color of Text Boxes

Click the text box and select Shape Format >> Shape Styles >> Shape Fill.
Select a color.

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You can also change the fill color choosing Fill in Font in the Home tab. alternate shape fill option for text box

4. Removing the Border

Click the text box and select Shape Format >> Shape Styles >> Shape Outline >> No Outline.

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The border will be removed.

outline removed from text box

5. Changing Font Size, Style, and Color

Go to Home >> Font >> Font Color.

changing text color in text box

Note

Select the text inside the text box if you want to change its color.

There are other editing options in Font.

changing font style in text box

Access different WordArt Styles in Shape Format.

Click on the image to get a detailed view

6. Changing the Line Spacing Inside a Text Box

Select the whole text.
Right-click the text and select Paragraph.

paragraph option for text box

In Paragraph, select Spacing.
Choose different line spacing options.
Click OK.

paragraph spacing options

Here, 6pt was selected.

changed line spacings in text box

7. Rotating the Text Box

Select the text box and you will see a clockwise rotating icon at the top of the box.
Click it and move your mouse cursor to rotate the text box.

Observe the GIF.

rotating text box

8. Resizing the Text Box to Fit Text

text not fitting in text box

Resizing Text Box Automatically to Fit:

Select the text box by clicking its edge.
Press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Shape option.
Select Text Options >> Textbox
In Text Box, check Resize shape to fit text.

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Height and width will be adjusted to match the text.

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Resize to Fit and Wrap:

Select Wrap text in shape.
Height will be adjusted and width will be kept.

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This is the output.

resizing text box with wrap text

Resize to Fit Using VBA:

Open the VBA editor and insert the following code in the module.

Sub FitTextBoxToText()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Dim textBox As Shape
    
    ' Set the worksheet
    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("8. Resize to Fit Text")
    ' Replace "YourSheetName" with your actual sheet name
    
    ' Set the name of the text box
    Dim textBoxName As String
    textBoxName = "TextBox 1"
    ' Replace with the actual name of your text box
    
    ' Check if the text box exists
    On Error Resume Next
    Set textBox = ws.Shapes(textBoxName)
    On Error GoTo 0
    
    If Not textBox Is Nothing Then
        ' Fit the text box to its content
        textBox.TextFrame.AutoSize = True
    Else
        MsgBox "Text box not found!"
    End If
End Sub

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Press F5 to run the code. It will resize the text box.

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9. Aligning Text Boxes in Excel

multiple text boxes not aligned

Aligning Text Boxes Horizontally:

Select all text boxes by holding Ctrl and left-clicking them.

selecting all text boxes for alignment

Select Shape Format >> Align Objects >> Align Top.

align top option for aligning text boxes

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The boxes will be horizontally aligned.

text boxes aligned horizontally

Aligning Text Boxes Vertically:

Select all text boxes.
Select Shape Format >> Align Objects >> Align Left.

align left option for vertical alignment

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This will align the text boxes vertically.

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Note

10. Changing the Transparency of a Text Box

not transparent text box

To change the transparency of the text box:

Select the text box by clicking its edge.
Press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Shape window.
Select Shape Options >> Fill & Line >> Fill.
Change the Transparency level in Color.

Click on the image to get a detailed view

11. Anchoring a Text Box in Excel

text box width changing with cell size

Select the text box by clicking its edge.
Press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Shape window.
Select Shape Options >> Size & Properties >> Properties.
Check Don’t move and size with cells.

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Lock a Text Box:

Go to Home >> Cells >> Format >> Protect Sheet.

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Uncheck Edit objects in Protect Sheet and click OK.

object locking option to anchor text box

The text box won’t be resized by changing the size of a column or row.

text box shape no longer changing with cell size

You need to unprotect the sheet to edit the text box again.

How to Copy a Text Box in Excel

Select the text box by clicking its edge.

selecting text box by clicking on edge

Press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste.

copying text box

How to Get a Text Box Linked to a Cell in Excel

text box linked to cell .

Create a text box.
Click the middle of the box. Instead of entering text there, use the formula bar.
Enter “=” followed by the cell you want to reference to. Here, =$C$16 to link to C16.

formula to link text box with cell

Press Enter. The value will be displayed in the text box.

cell value showing in text box

Double-click the text box and enter your text.

editing linked text box

Read More: Get a Text Box Linked to Cell

How to Create a Dynamic Text Box in Excel

dynamic text box changing with selection

Select a cell to insert a location and go to Data >> Data Tools >> Data Validation.

adding list to cell

In Data Validation, select Settings.
Select List in Allow and enter the range in Source. Here, source data is B6:B13.

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A drop-down arrow will be displayed in the cell. Choose a value.

list working for cells

Enter the following formula in C17.

=VLOOKUP(C16,B6:F13,4,TRUE)

vlookup formula to fetch values

Insert a text box, select it and link it to the cell by entering =$C$17 in the formula bar.

dynamic box showing cell values

Read More: Add a Dynamic Text Box

How to Create a Floating Text Box in Excel

Open the VBA window.
Select Insert >> UserForm.

inserting userform in vba

In Toolbox, select TextBox and drag and drop your text box.

adding text box in userform

Set Multiline as True and choose 2 in the ScrollBars option.

properties for floating text box

Create a Module and enter the following code.

Sub floating_text_box()
UserForm1.TextBox1.Text = "Monthly sales of accessories in different branches of XYZ company"
UserForm1.Show vbModeless
End Sub

vba code for floating text box in module

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Press F5 to run the code. The floating text box will be displayed.

floating text box on worksheet

Enter your text in the text box , like in an ActiveX text box.

Click on the image to get a detailed view

Read More: Create Floating Text Box

How to Add Hyperlinks to a Text Box in Excel

Insert a text box.

text box inserted for hyperlink

Add formatting to the box (optional).

modifications of text box with hyperlink

Right-click the text box and select Link.

adding hyperlink option for text box

Choose a place for the link in Insert Hyperlink. Here, Place in This Document in Link to: was selected and a named sheet was chosen.

selecting linked location for text box

Click OK.

The text box will work as a button. Clicking it will take us to the homepage.

text box with hyperlink working

Note

Use Ctrl+Left click to select a text box with the hyperlink. A simple left click will take you to the linked location.

Read More: Anchor Text Box in Excel

How to Apply Conditional Formatting to a Text Box in Excel

Use ActiveX text boxes:

Create an ActiveX text box.
Select the box and rename it in Name Box. Here, “ConditionalTextBox”. (The Design Mode in Controls must be active)

renaming text box

Right-click the sheet name and select View Code.

adding code to activex text box

Insert the following code in the editor.

Private Sub ConditionalTextBox_Change()
If ConditionalTextBox.Value < "0" Then ConditionalTextBox.BackColor = rgbBlack
If ConditionalTextBox.Value < "0" Then ConditionalTextBox.ForeColor = rgbWhite
If ConditionalTextBox.Value > "0" Then ConditionalTextBox.BackColor = rgbWhite
If ConditionalTextBox.Value > "0" Then ConditionalTextBox.ForeColor = rgbBlack
End Sub

vba code for text box with conditional formatting in module

Click on the image to get a detailed view

Close the VBA editor.

The color will change to white if the value is positive and to black if zero or negative.

conditional formatting in text box

Note

If the text box is blank or has non-numeric values, the fill also turns black.

How to Convert Text Box Content into Cell Content in Excel

text boxes to be converted into cells

Open the VBA Editor and insert a Module.
Enter the following code.

Sub ConvertTextBoxToCell()
    Dim Sh_xRg As Range
    Dim Sh_xRow As Long
    Dim Sh_xCol As Long
    Dim Sh_xTxtBox As textBox
    Set Sh_xRg = Application.InputBox("Select a cell):", "Convert Text Box to Cell ", _
                       ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.AddressLocal, , , , , 8)
    Sh_xRow = Sh_xRg.Row
    Sh_xCol = Sh_xRg.Column
    For Each Sh_xTxtBox In ActiveSheet.TextBoxes
        Cells(Sh_xRow, Sh_xCol).Value = Sh_xTxtBox.Text
               Sh_xRow = Sh_xRow + 1
    Next
End Sub