Shortcut for border in Excel

• Release Feb 1, 2022Update Aug 24, 2022
• Written in Excel for Microsoft 365 version 2202

After entering data in Excel, many people draw a boundary line to separate items or values. To make the entire data easier to see, it is effective not only to just draw lines, but also sometimes to combine bold and double lines. Many people use the mouse to draw boundary lines, but here are some shortcuts that allow you to work more efficiently.

Use shortcuts to draw borders

Add a Bottom Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + O

Mac
command + option + ↓ (Down Arrow key)

Add a Top Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + P

Mac
command + option + ↑ (Up Arrow key)

Add a Left Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + L

Mac
command + option + ← (Left Arrow key)

Add a Right Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + R

Mac
command + option + → (Right Arrow key)

Running a No Border

Windows
Ctrl + Shift + _ (underscore)
Access key: Alt + H + B + N

Mac
command + option + – (minus)

Add Outside Borders

Windows
Ctrl + Shift + & (and)
Access key: Alt + H + B + S

Mac
command + option + 0 (zero)

Add Thick Outside Borders

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + T

Mac
None

Add a Bottom Double Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + B

Mac
None

Add a Thick Bottom Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + H

Mac
None

Add a Top and Bottom Border

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + B + D

Mac
None

Add a Bottom Border

For instructions on how to add a Bottom Border using a shortcut, see below.

Total Time: 1 minute

Select a cell

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Bottom Border.

Completion of Bottom Border addition

Press Alt + H + B + O to draw a Bottom Border on the selected cell. Press Tab to move the active cell and you will see the Bottom Border drawn on the selected cell.

Add a Top Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Top Border.

Press Alt + H + B + P to draw the Top Border.

Press Tab to move the active cell to see the Top Border.

Add a Left Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Left Border.

Press Alt + H + B + L to draw the Left Border.

Press Tab to move the active cell to see the Left Border.

Add a Right Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Right Border.

Press Alt + H + B + R to draw the Right Border.

Press Shift + Tab to move the active cell to see the Right Border.

Running a No Border

Check the cell with the border (ex B3).

Select the cell with the border.

Press Ctrl + Shift + _ (underbar) or Alt + H + B + N to make the border disappear.

Press Enter twice to move the active cell and you will see that the border of the selected cell (ex B3) has disappeared.

Add Outside Borders

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Outside Borders.

Press Ctrl + Shift + & (and) or Alt + H + B + S to draw the Outside Borders.

Press Enter twice to move the active cell and you will see Outside Borders in the selected cell (ex B3).

Add Thick Outside Borders

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Thick Outside Borders.

Press Alt + H + B + T to draw Thick Outside Borders.

Press Enter twice to move the active cell and you will see that the selected cell (ex B3) now has a Thick Outside Borders.

Add a Bottom Double Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Bottom Double Border.

Press Alt + H + B + B to draw Bottom Double Border.

Press Tab to move the active cell to see the Bottom Double Border drawn on the selected cell.

Add a Thick Bottom Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Thick Bottom Border.

Press Alt + H + B + H to draw a Thick Bottom Border.

Press the Tab and move the active cell to see that a Thick Bottom Border has been drawn on the selected cell.

Add a Top and Bottom Border

Select the cell for which you want to draw the Top and Bottom Border.

Press Alt + H + B + D to draw the Top Border and Bottom Border.

Press Enter twice to move the active cell and you will see that the Top Border and Bottom Border are now on the selected cell (ex B3).