Skip to main content
  • Login
Cart
Exceljet logo Exceljet
  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles
Cart
  • Login
  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles
  • Login

You are here

Home › Videos › How to use fill, justify, and distributed in Excel

How to use fill, justify, and distributed in Excel

Transcript 

In this lesson, we'll take a look at a few lesser-used horizontal alignment options. These are the options to fill, justify, and distribute content horizontally in cells.

Let's take a look.

Let's look first at the Fill option. Selecting a horizontal alignment of Fill will fill a cell with content, repeating the content as necessary. This is not very useful for ordinary content, but it can be used for other effects.

For example, we could enter a hash symbol in a cell, choose the horizontal alignment Fill, and then copy the cell across several columns to create a border element. Or, we could use a period instead.

Next is Justify. Justify only affects text in cells that are wrapped. If fact, you'll see the Wrap Text button highlight automatically when you apply Justify. Justify will force all lines except the last line to fill the entire column width. In general, the Justify alignment option will look better when used on wider columns.

Note that as we saw in the Text Wrap lesson, you may need to double-click the row border to get the row to resize properly.

Finally, the Distributed option, like Justify, forces lines to fill the column width and automatically enables text wrapping. Unlike Justify, Distributed forces all lines to fit the column width, even the last line in wrapped text.

Even cells that contain a small amount of text on one line are expanded to fit the column width.

When a cell contains one word or number only, the Distributed option centers the content.

Be aware that with both Justify and Distributed, the text wrapping is automatic. In the Format Cells dialog box, the Wrap Text option will be left unchecked, but the Wrap Text button on the ribbon will appear enabled.

Master Excel with practice. Download this worksheet (and dozens more) in our Core Excel course. Learn by doing.

Dave Bruns Profile Picture

Author

Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award  

Exceljet Training

  • Excel 101
  • Excel Fundamentals
  • Conditional Formatting
  • Essential Formulas
  • Advanced Formulas
  • Pivot Tables
  • Excel Tables
  • Excel Shortcuts
  • Excel Charts
  • Course Bundles
I just wanted to reach out and thank you for your excellent work. I'm an avid reader of the Exceljet newsletter and frequently refer to your website for very useful clarifications. I use Excel a lot in my work as a data analyst and have taught Excel classes on many occasions. You may therefore consider that my appreciation of your work is based on an expert opinion. ;)
Tim
More Testimonials

Get Training

Quick, clean, and to the point training

Learn Excel with high quality video training. Our videos are quick, clean, and to the point, so you can learn Excel in less time, and easily review key topics when needed. Each video comes with its own practice worksheet.

View Paid Training & Bundles
Excel foundational video course
Excel Pivot Table video training course
Excel formulas and functions video training course
Excel Charts video training course
Video training for Excel Tables
Dynamic Array Formulas
Exceljet logo Exceljet
Quick, clean, and to the point

Resources

  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles

About Us

  • About
  • Testimonials
  • Topics
  • Contact
  • Donate

Newsletter Sign-up

Work faster in Excel. Join more than 100,000 people who get weekly tips from us.
© 2012-2025 Exceljet. Terms of use
  • Visit our Twitter page