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Digital Accessibility

Additional Tips in Excel

Following these additional tips in Excel can help make your spreadsheets more accessible for people with disabilities. 

Be Mindful To...

  • Delete empty rows or columns from your tables.
    If a screen reader user encounters a row that is completely blank, they may assume the table has ended.

  • Avoid leaving blank cells in your tables.
    If you are missing data from a particular cell, write "No Data" or "N/a" instead. 

  • Make sure all text in each cell is visible.
    Expand rows and columns to better fit your text. Use the Wrap Text feature to format text.
    Screenshot of the Home tab in Excel. The Wrap Text dropdown is highlighted with a garnet box.
    The Wrap Text feature in Excel.
  • Only present one data table per sheet.
    This will help to simplify each sheet and make it easier for everyone to understand. 

  • Remove blank sheets from your workbook to prevent confusion.
    Besides cluttering your workbook, leaving blank sheets in place may also leave screen reader users wondering if they're missing something on the sheet. 

  • Do not merge data or header cells.
    Merging cells can cause issues with navigation for screen reader users. Screen readers may not read out headers properly if there are merged data cells within your table.

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