Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Drop-Down List Font Sizes.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 7, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
James asked if there was a way to increase the font size used in the column drop-down lists that appear when you enable the AutoFilter in Excel. He normally sets the zoom on his worksheet to 60% so that he can see more of the worksheet at once, and the drop-down list font is smaller still.
Unfortunately, there is no way to change the size of the font. The font size used for some Excel controls is modified whenever you change the display properties in Windows, but none of those affect the drop-down font, either.
Because the font size increases in proportion to the zoom factor used for a worksheet, there is one potential workaround. You could increase the zoom factor a significant amount, say to 100% or even 125%. Then, select the data in the worksheet and decrease the font size and adjust column widths so you can see as much of the worksheet as you could at the 60% zoom factor. The change in worksheet font size should not affect the drop-down font size. That should still be tied to the zoom factor, and now be large enough to easily read.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2086) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Drop-Down List Font Sizes.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
As you create and work on your workbooks, Excel can include sensitive personal information with the data. If you want to ...
Discover MoreIf you get errors about unfindable files when you first start Excel, it can be frustrating. Here's how to track down and ...
Discover MoreEver tried to select a range of cells using the mouse, only to have the cells scroll by so quickly you can't make the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments