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: Printing Row Numbers.
Maria wonders if it is possible to print out a worksheet and show the row numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) on the printout. She wants just the row numbers, not the column letters.
The short answer is no, it is not possible. Excel allows you to print both row numbers and column letters, but not row numbers alone. You can, however, use a workaround to get row numbers. All you need to do is add a new column A (insert a blank column to the left of the existing column A) and then use this formula in each cell of the column:
=ROW()
The formula returns the row number of the formula's row. You can then format the column to appear any way desired, and then include the column in the printout. If you want to actually include a modified row number (perhaps you don't want to show the row number of the first two rows, which contain column headings), you can either delete the formulas in cells A1:A2 or you could adjust the row number starting in cell A3:
=ROW()-2
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3914) 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: Printing Row Numbers.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
If you need to make what Excel prints be based upon conditions in a worksheet, you'll love the information in this tip. There ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to print out information in either portrait or landscape orientation, but what if you need both types of ...
Discover MoreWhen you choose to print something in Excel, the print quantity should automatically reset to 1. If the quantity is set to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2016-11-03 13:40:37
allen@sharonparq.com
Ryan: It is a regular formula. Just copy it down however many rows you need.
-Allen
2016-11-03 13:39:05
Ryan
Thanks. But how do you fill each cell with that formula? I'm looking at 289 rows, I don't want to manually fill that many rows.
Thanks
2015-01-09 16:07:07
Kathleen
How do I get the line numbers to print in excel?
2013-10-10 10:34:45
Carolyn Quinn
This was WONDERFUL to find. Silly Microsoft 2010 has eliminated so many easy features.
Thanks very, very much!
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 © 2017 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