XL: How to Change Default Font and Font Size in Microsoft Excel

ID: Q175684

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SUMMARY

Different versions of Microsoft Excel use different default fonts and font sizes. This article contains information about the default fonts and font sizes and how to change them in the versions of Microsoft Excel that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The default fonts and font sizes used by Microsoft Excel are listed in the following table.

                                                          Default
   Version of Microsoft Excel             Default font    font size
   ----------------------------------------------------------------

   Microsoft Excel 97                     Arial           10
   7.0, 7.0a for Windows                  Arial           10
   5.0, 5.0c for Windows                  Arial           10
   Earlier versions for Windows           MS Sans Serif   10

   Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition   Geneva           9
   5.0, 5.0a for the Macintosh            Geneva          10
   Earlier versions for the Macintosh     Geneva          10

Because of the differences in default font and font size, when you open a workbook that is created in one version of Microsoft Excel in another version of Microsoft Excel, the workbook may appear different from a new workbook that you create.

This behavior is especially noticeable in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, which uses a different default font size from other versions of Microsoft Excel.

You can override the default font or font size in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later by following these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options or Preferences.

2. Click the General tab.

3. Use the Standard Font and Size controls to change the default font and

   font size.

4. Click OK.

You can override the default font and font size in Microsoft Excel by creating a template with a style that is formatted with the font and font size you want. When you create a new workbook by using the template, the new workbook uses the same formatting as the template.

Additional query words: XL5 XL7 XL97 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a

Keywords          : xlloadsave xlformat 
Version           : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: May 28, 1999