In Excel, headers and footers are lines of text that print at the top (header) and bottom (footer) of each page in a worksheet. Headers and footers contain descriptive text such as titles, dates, or page numbers. Since they are not visible in the normal worksheet view, headers and footers are added to a worksheet when it is printed.

Options for Working With Headers and Footers

Excel comes equipped with a number of preset headers, such as page numbers or the workbook name, that are easy to add. Or you can create custom headers and footers that include text, graphics, and other spreadsheet data.

Instructions in this article apply to Excel 2019, 2016, and 2013.

A header or footer can contain up to three pieces of information. This information can appear in three locations on the page. For headers, the locations are the top left corner, the top center, and the top right corner of the page. For footers, the locations are the bottom left corner, the bottom center, and the bottom right corner of the page.

Although true watermarks cannot be created in Excel, “pseudo” watermarks can be added to a worksheet by adding images to custom headers or footers.

Preset Headers and Footers

Most of the preset headers and footers available in Excel enter codes, such as &[Page] or &[Date], to enter the desired information. These codes make the headers and footers dynamic. This means that they change as required, whereas custom headers and footers are static.

For example, the &[Page] code shows different page numbers on each page. If entered manually using the custom option, every page has the same page number.

Adding a Custom Header or Footer in Page Layout

To add a custom header or header in Page layout view:

  • Select View.
  • Select Page Layout to change to Page layout view.
  • Choose one of the three boxes at the top or bottom of the page to add a header or footer.
  • Type the header or footer information into the selected box.

Adding a Preset Header or Footer in Page Layout

To add one of the preset headers or headers in Page layout view:

Select View.

Select Page Layout to change to Page layout view.

Choose one of the three boxes at the top or bottom of the page to add a header or footer.

Type the header or footer information into the selected box.

  • Select View.
  • Select Page Layout to change to Page layout view.
  • Choose one of the three boxes located at the top or bottom of the page to add header or footer information. Notice that a new tab, labeled Design, appears.
  • On the Design tab, select a preset option. Choose from options such as Page Number, Current Date, or File Name.

Returning to Normal View From Page Layout View

Once you’ve added the header or footer, Excel leaves you in Page Layout view. While it is possible to work in this view, you may want to return to Normal view. To do so:

Choose one of the three boxes located at the top or bottom of the page to add header or footer information. Notice that a new tab, labeled Design, appears.

On the Design tab, select a preset option. Choose from options such as Page Number, Current Date, or File Name.

  • Select any cell in the worksheet to leave the header/footer area.
  • Select View.
  • Select Normal view.

Adding Preset Headers and Footers in the Page Setup Dialog Box

To have more control over the look of headers and footers, use the Page Setup dialog box. Here’s how:

Select any cell in the worksheet to leave the header/footer area.

Select Normal view.

  • Select Page Layout.
  • Select the Page Setup launcher to open the Page Setup dialog box.
  • In the dialog box, select the Header/Footer tab.
  • Select your preset header from either the Header or Footer drop-down list.
  • Select OK to close the dialog box.
  • Use the Page Setup dialog box to set your headers and footers.

Removing Headers or Footers

To remove headers and footers from multiple worksheets all at once:

Select Page Layout.

Select the Page Setup launcher to open the Page Setup dialog box.

In the dialog box, select the Header/Footer tab.

Select your preset header from either the Header or Footer drop-down list.

Select OK to close the dialog box.

Custom headers and footers can also be added in the dialog box by selecting Custom Header or Custom Footer.

  • Select the worksheets.
  • Select Page Layout.
  • Select the Page Setup launcher to open the Page Setup dialog box.
  • In the dialog box, select the Header/Footer tab.
  • Select (none) in both the preset header and footer drop-down lists.
  • Select OK to close the dialog box.
  • All header or footer content is removed from the selected worksheets.

Select the worksheets.

Select (none) in both the preset header and footer drop-down lists.

All header or footer content is removed from the selected worksheets.

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