Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016

If you often use the same layout or data in a workbook, save it as a template so you can use the template to create more workbooks instead of starting from scratch.

You can use one of your own templates to create a new workbook, or you can use one of the many predefined templates that you can download from Microsoft Office Online.

Save a workbook as a template

  1. If you’re saving a workbook to a template for the first time, start by setting the default personal templates location:

    1. Click File > Options.

    2. Click Save, and then under Save workbooks, enter the path to the personal templates location in the Default personal templates location box.

      This path is typically: C:\Users\[UserName]\Documents\Custom Office Templates.

      Options you can set for saving workbooks

    3. Click OK.

      Once this option is set, all custom templates you save to the My Templates folder automatically appear under Personal on the New page (File > New).

  2. Open the workbook you want to use as a template.

  3. Click File > Export.

  4. Under Export, click Change File Type.

  5. In the Workbook File Types box, double-click Template.

  6. In the File name box, type the name you want to use for the template.

  7. Click Save, and then close the template.

Create a workbook based on the template

With the template you created above, you can create a new workbook. This section tells you how to do that.

Note: Alternately, you can browse for various online templates in Excel and use them instead. For more information, see Download free, pre-built templates.

  1. Click File > New.

  2. Click Personal.

    Personal templates location

  3. Double-click the template you just created.

    Excel creates a new workbook that is based on your template.

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