How to Autofit Row Height with Excel VBA in 3 Minutes

Written by Kasper Langmann

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that offers a myriad of functionalities. One of these is the ability to autofit row height using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This feature is particularly useful when dealing with large datasets where manual adjustment of row height can be time-consuming and inefficient. In this guide, we will explore how to automate this process using Excel VBA.

Understanding Excel VBA

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a programming language developed by Microsoft. It is primarily used for automating tasks in Microsoft Office applications. VBA allows users to create custom functions and automate specific computer processes. In the context of Excel, VBA can be used to automate complex tasks, manipulate data, and customize Excel user interface.

Excel VBA operates using objects, properties, and methods. An object can be a cell, a worksheet, a range of cells, or the Excel application itself. Properties are the attributes of these objects, such as their color, height, width, and so on. Methods are the actions that can be performed on these objects, such as copying, pasting, or autofitting.

Autofit Row Height in Excel

Before we delve into how to autofit row height using VBA, it’s important to understand what autofit row height is. In Excel, each row has a default height. However, when you enter data that exceeds the default height, the row does not automatically adjust to fit the content. This is where the autofit row height feature comes in handy.

Autofit row height is a feature in Excel that automatically adjusts the height of the rows to fit the content. This feature can be accessed from the Excel interface by selecting the rows you want to autofit, then navigating to the ‘Format’ option under the ‘Home’ tab, and finally selecting ‘Autofit Row Height’. While this manual process is straightforward, it can be time-consuming when dealing with large datasets. This is where Excel VBA comes into play.

Autofitting Row Height with Excel VBA

Autofitting row height using Excel VBA involves writing a simple script that automatically adjusts the height of the rows to fit the content. This script can be run whenever you want to autofit row height, saving you the time and effort of doing it manually.

To autofit row height using Excel VBA, follow the steps below:

Press ‘Alt + F11’ to open the VBA editor.
Click on ‘Insert’ and select ‘Module’ to create a new module.
In the module, write the following code:
```
Sub AutofitRowHeight()
    Rows("1:10").EntireRow.AutoFit
End Sub
```
This code will autofit the height of rows 1 to 10.
Press ‘F5’ to run the code.

You can adjust the range of rows to be autofitted by changing the numbers in the parentheses in the ‘Rows’ line of the code. For example, if you want to autofit rows 1 to 100, you would write ‘Rows(“1:100”).EntireRow.AutoFit’.

Advanced Autofit Techniques with Excel VBA

While the basic autofit row height function is useful, there are more advanced techniques that you can use to further automate and customize the process.

Autofit All Rows

If you want to autofit all rows in a worksheet, you can use the following code:

Sub AutofitAllRows()
    Cells.EntireRow.AutoFit
End Sub

This code will autofit the height of all rows in the worksheet.

Autofit Rows with Specific Text

You can also autofit rows that contain specific text. For example, if you want to autofit all rows that contain the word ‘Excel’, you can use the following code:

Sub AutofitSpecificText()
    Dim rng As Range
    For Each rng In ActiveSheet.UsedRange
        If rng.Value = "Excel" Then
            rng.EntireRow.AutoFit
        End If
    Next rng
End Sub

This code will loop through all cells in the worksheet, and if a cell contains the word ‘Excel’, it will autofit the row that contains that cell.

Conclusion

Autofitting row height in Excel using VBA is a powerful technique that can save you a significant amount of time when dealing with large datasets. By understanding and utilizing the power of Excel VBA, you can automate and customize the process to fit your specific needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Excel user, mastering this technique can greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency.