How to Make a Row Header in Excel (4 Easy Ways)

Here, we have provided a sample dataset that we will use to make a header row in Excel. As you can see, it’s not particularly distinct from the data.

Method 1 – Customizing Formats to Make a Row Header in Excel

Steps

Select the columns from the row that you want to make a row header. We will select the cells B4:E4.

Go to the Home tab in the ribbon.
Go to the Font group.
Click on the capital B, which stands for Bold Text.
The text in the selected cell will become bold.

Keep the cells selected.
Select the Border tool in the Font group.

From the drop-down list, select any border. Here, we have chosen the Bottom Double Borderoption.

Click on the icon next to the Border. This is the Fill Color tool.

From the drop-down list of the Fill Color tool, choose any of your preferred colors. In this instance, we chose a shade of blue.

This is our vivid row header.

Method 2 – Freezing Row to Make a Row Header in Excel

Steps:

Select a row just after the desired row that you want to turn into a header row. In this case, we selected Row 5.

Go to the View tab in the ribbon.
Select the Freeze Panes tool.
From the drop-down list, select the Freeze Panes command.

As you scroll, the other rows will move up and down except for Row 4.

Method 3 – Formatting Data as Excel Table to Make a Row Header

Steps:

Select the cells containing the entire data set. We selected the cells in B4:E10.

Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click on the Table tab.
A Create Table dialogue box will appear.

Check the checkbox that contains the text “My table has headers.“
Click OK.

There is now a row header at the top of the table.

Method 4 – Inserting Print Title to Make a Row Header in Excel

Here, we have a dataset that will exceed one page when we print it out. We will ensure each printed page has the same header row.

Steps:

Go to the Page Layout tab.
Select the Print Title command.
The Page Setup dialogue box will appear.

Select the Sheet tab.
Go to Rows to repeat at the top command box.
Click on the upward arrow at the right-hand side.

Select the desired row that you want as a row header. In this instance, we will select row 4, marked as $4:$4 in the command box.
Click on the upward arrow to the right of the command box to confirm selection.

In the Page Setup dialogue box, the selected row will appear in Rows to repeat at the top command box.
Click on the Print Preview tab.

You will have a preview of the first page that will be printed.

If you slide down, you will see the second page. The page contains the same row header as the first page.

Note: While checking for print preview make sure to check the Page Break option. This will ensure that the data is printed properly on all the pages.

Download Practice Workbook

You may download the following Excel workbook for better understanding and practice yourself.

Make a Header Row.xlsx