How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets
Have long text that overflows your cells in Google Sheets? Text wrapping displays content on multiple lines within a cell, making all your data visible without widening columns. This guide covers how to wrap text using the toolbar, Format menu, and mobile app.
Quick Answer
To wrap text in Google Sheets: Select your cells > Click Format in the menu > Hover over Text wrapping > Click Wrap. Your text will now display on multiple lines within the cell.
Toolbar shortcut: Select cells > Click the text wrapping icon (↩) in the toolbar > Select Wrap.
Method 1: Using the Toolbar (Fastest)
The quickest way to wrap text in Google Sheets is using the text wrapping button in the toolbar. Here is how:
- Select the cell or cells where you want to wrap text. You can select a single cell, a range, entire columns, or the whole sheet (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A).
- Find the Text wrapping icon in the toolbar. It looks like a horizontal arrow curving downward, located near the text alignment buttons.
- Click the icon to open the dropdown menu.
- Select "Wrap" from the three options (Overflow, Wrap, Clip).
Your text will immediately wrap to fit within the cell, and the row height will automatically adjust to show all the content.
Pro Tip: Cannot find the icon? The text wrapping button may be hidden if your window is narrow. Look for it in the toolbar after the font size, bold, and text color buttons. You can also widen your browser window or use the Format menu method.
How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets on Mobile
You can also wrap text in the Google Sheets mobile app on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices:
iOS and Android Steps
- Open your spreadsheet in the Google Sheets app.
- Tap on the cell you want to format.
- Tap the Format button (the "A" with horizontal lines) at the top of the screen.
- Tap Cell in the formatting menu.
- Find Wrap text and toggle it On.
| Platform | Format Button Location | Path to Wrap Text |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Menu bar or toolbar icon | Format > Text wrapping > Wrap |
| iOS App | Top toolbar (A with lines) | Format > Cell > Wrap text toggle |
| Android App | Top toolbar (A with lines) | Format > Cell > Wrap text toggle |
Text Wrapping Options Explained
Google Sheets offers three text wrapping options. Understanding each helps you choose the right one for your data:
Overflow (Default)
Text extends into adjacent cells if they are empty. If the next cell has content, text is cut off at the cell border. Good for headers or when adjacent cells will remain empty.
Wrap
Text wraps to multiple lines within the cell. Row height automatically increases to show all content. Best for keeping all data visible while maintaining consistent column widths.
Clip
Text is cut off at the cell border. Only the portion that fits is visible. Useful when you want a clean grid appearance and can see full content by clicking the cell.
Pro Tip: You can apply different wrapping settings to different parts of your sheet. For example, use Wrap for data cells but Overflow for column headers.
Auto-Fit Row Height for Wrapped Text
When you wrap text, Google Sheets usually adjusts the row height automatically. However, if rows are not expanding properly, you can manually fit them:
Auto-Fit a Single Row
- Hover over the bottom border of the row number (on the left side of the sheet).
- When the cursor changes to a resize arrow (↕), double-click.
- The row will automatically resize to fit all wrapped content.
Auto-Fit Multiple Rows
- Select the rows you want to resize by clicking and dragging on the row numbers.
- Right-click on the selected row numbers.
- Select "Resize rows" from the context menu.
- Choose "Fit to data" and click OK.
Set a Specific Row Height
If you want all rows to be a consistent height:
- Select the rows to resize.
- Right-click and select "Resize rows".
- Enter a specific pixel height (e.g., 50 pixels).
- Click OK.
Note: If you set a fixed row height smaller than needed for wrapped text, some content will be hidden. Use "Fit to data" to ensure all content is visible.
Tips & Best Practices
Apply wrap to the whole sheet for consistency
Select all cells with Ctrl+A (Cmd+A) and apply text wrapping. This ensures new data you enter will also wrap automatically.
Combine with column width adjustments
After wrapping, you may want to widen columns to reduce the number of wrapped lines. Double-click the column border to auto-fit column width.
Use Clip for printing
If your sheet will be printed and you want a cleaner look, use Clip to maintain consistent row heights. Full content is still visible in the formula bar.
Consider vertical alignment
Wrapped cells look better with top or middle vertical alignment. Go to Format > Align > Top or Middle to adjust.
Freeze header rows before wrapping data
If you have column headers, freeze them (View > Freeze > 1 row) before applying wrap to data rows. This keeps headers visible while scrolling.
Check mobile display
Wrapped text may display differently on mobile devices due to smaller screens. Test your sheet on mobile if it will be viewed on phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you wrap text in Google Sheets?
Select the cells, click Format in the menu bar, hover over Text wrapping, and select Wrap. Alternatively, use the text wrapping icon in the toolbar. Wrapped text will display on multiple lines within the cell.
What is the keyboard shortcut for text wrap in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets does not have a direct keyboard shortcut for text wrapping. However, you can use Alt+O, W, W (Windows) or Ctrl+Option+O, W, W (Mac) to access Format > Text wrapping > Wrap through keyboard navigation.
How do I wrap text in Google Sheets on mobile?
In the Google Sheets mobile app: Select a cell, tap the Format button (A with lines), tap Cell, then toggle on Wrap text. This works on both iOS and Android.
What is the difference between Wrap, Overflow, and Clip?
Wrap displays text on multiple lines within the cell. Overflow lets text extend into adjacent empty cells. Clip cuts off text at the cell border, hiding any content that does not fit. Wrap is best for keeping all content visible while maintaining column widths.
Why is my wrapped text not showing all lines?
If wrapped text is cut off, the row height may be too small. Double-click the row border to auto-fit the height, or manually drag it to make the row taller. You can also right-click the row and select Resize row > Fit to data.
How do I wrap text in all cells in Google Sheets?
Press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac) to select all cells, then go to Format > Text wrapping > Wrap. This applies text wrapping to the entire sheet, including cells with future data entry.
Can I wrap text and also limit the number of lines shown?
Not directly. However, you can set a fixed row height after wrapping. Content beyond the visible height will be hidden but can still be seen in the formula bar when the cell is selected.
Summary
Wrapping text in Google Sheets is essential for displaying long content without widening columns:
- Toolbar method: Click the text wrapping icon and select Wrap
- Format menu: Format > Text wrapping > Wrap
- Mobile app: Format button > Cell > Wrap text toggle
- Three options: Overflow (default), Wrap (multiple lines), Clip (cut off)
- Adjust row height: Double-click row borders to auto-fit
Text wrapping is especially useful for data with varying content lengths, notes columns, or any cell where you need to see all the content at once.
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