Accurate Font Sizes

You already know that Excel allows you to easily change the size of your fonts using various tools, ribbons, and menus (depending on your version of Excel). You may not know, however, that Excel can use virtually any point size you want, not just those listed in the drop-down size lists or on the Home tab of the ribbon.

Font sizes are specified in points, which are a typographer's measurement roughly equivalent to 1/72 of an inch. You can either select a size from the drop down list or ribbon, or you can enter your own size. Select the size shown in the list or ribbon, and then type the size you actually want. When you press Enter, the size of the text in the cell (or your selected text within a cell) is changed.

It is also easy to overlook the fact that Excel can display and print fonts in increments of half a point. Depending on the typeface being used, this can make a big difference. For example, there is a very marked difference between 10 and 11 point Verdana, and 10.5 may be just what you need.

You obtain the half-sizes by typing them directly into the size box. If you try to type in any other fractional size (like 10.25 or 10.4), Excel rounds your entry to the nearest half-point. (Remember—you can only set full point sizes or half point sizes.)