Is there a shortcut for borders in Google Sheets?

Natively only Alt + Shift + 7 (outer border) and a few siblings. XLKeys adds the full Excel set: all borders (Alt H B A), outside (S), top (P), bottom (O), left (L), right (R), remove (N), and more.

How do I remove borders with the keyboard?

With XLKeys, select the range and press Alt H B N — all borders are cleared, same as Excel.

All shortcuts

All Borders in Google Sheets

Windows

Alt→H→B→A

Mac

Option→H→B→A

Excel’s border sequences (Alt H B + a letter) cover every border style without touching the mouse. Google Sheets gives you a toolbar dropdown and a couple of obscure native combos.

XLKeys maps the full Excel border family into Sheets. Alt H B A draws all borders on the selection; sibling sequences handle outside, top, bottom, double-bottom, thick-outside, and removing borders.

Excel vs. Google Sheets vs. XLKeys

Where	Shortcut
Excel	`Alt`→`H`→`B`→`A`
Google Sheets (native)	No keyboard shortcut
Google Sheets + XLKeys	`Alt`→`H`→`B`→`A`

Sheets has Alt + Shift + 7 for an outer border, but nothing for all borders — the rest is toolbar clicks.

How to use it

Select the range to format.
Press Alt, release it, then type H, B, A.
Every cell in the selection gets borders on all sides.
Related: Alt → H → B → S (outside), Alt → H → B → N (remove all).

Frequently asked questions

Related shortcuts

Outside Border

Alt→H→B→S

Merge Cells

Alt→H→M→A

Clear Formatting

Alt→H→E→F

Make Google Sheets feel like Excel

Install XLKeys to use all borders and 150+ other Excel-style shortcuts, Alt-key sequences, formula auditing, Goal Seek, and Sensitivity Tables in Google Sheets.

Add XLKeys to Chrome Free printable cheat sheet →