Excel Print Pages in Reverse Order?
Yes, Excel can print pages in reverse order. You set this in the Page Setup dialog box under the Sheet tab, where the “Page order� option lets you choose “Over, then down� or “Down, then over.� However, that setting controls the sequence of printing within a worksheet, not the physical order of pages coming out of the printer. If you want the last page to print first (so the stack ends up in correct reading order), you adjust the printer’s own reverse-order setting or change the print order in Excel’s print options.
Why Would You Want Reverse Page Order?
Most printers output pages face-up, meaning the first page printed ends up at the bottom of the stack. If you print a 10-page worksheet normally, page 1 is on the bottom and page 10 is on top. To get the final stack in correct order without manually re-sorting, you either tell the printer to print in reverse (so page 10 comes out first, then 9, etc.) or you change the order in which Excel sends pages to the printer. This is especially useful for large spreadsheets, multi-page reports, or when you’re printing both sides and want the pages to come out in the right sequence.
How Excel’s Page Order Setting Works
Excel’s “Page order� setting (under Page Layout → Page Setup → Sheet) controls the direction in which pages are numbered and printed when a worksheet is larger than one page. The two options are:
- Down, then over – Pages are numbered column by column, top to bottom, then moving to the next column of pages to the right.
- Over, then down – Pages are numbered row by row, left to right, then moving down to the next row of pages.
This setting does not reverse the physical order of printed pages. It only changes the logical sequence of pages. For example, if you have a wide and tall worksheet that prints as 2 pages across and 3 pages down, “Down, then over� will print page 1 (top-left), page 2 (below it), page 3 (below that), then page 4 (top-right), and so on. “Over, then down� would print page 1 (top-left), page 2 (top-right), page 3 (second row left), etc. Neither of these makes page 3 print before page 1.
How to Actually Print in Reverse Order
To get the physical pages to come out in reverse order, you have two main methods:
Method 1: Use the Printer’s Reverse-Print Setting
- In Excel, go to File → Print (or press Ctrl+P).
- Click on Printer Properties (or “Printer Settings� depending on your printer driver).
- Look for an option like “Reverse order,� “Print last page first,� or “Page order� (not to be confused with Excel’s page order).
- Enable that option and print. The printer will output the last page first, so the stack ends up in correct order.
This method is the most common and works with most printers. The exact wording varies by manufacturer, but it’s usually found under the “Layout,� “Finishing,� or “Advanced� tab.
Method 2: Change the Print Order in Excel’s Print Settings
Some versions of Excel offer a “Print pages in reverse order� checkbox directly in the Print pane, usually under the “Settings� section. If you see it, check that box. If not, you can manually specify the page range in reverse order, but that only works if you know the total number of pages. For example, if your worksheet prints as 10 pages, you can type “10-1� in the “Pages� box (some printers accept this, but many do not). A more reliable approach is to print page 10 first, then page 9, etc., but that’s tedious.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
- Misconception: Excel’s “Page order� setting reverses the order.
It does not. It only changes the sequence of pages within the print job, not the physical order. - Problem: The printer’s reverse-order option is grayed out.
This often happens when the printer driver doesn’t support it or when you’re using a network printer with limited settings. Try updating the driver or use the manual method. - Problem: The reverse-order setting in the printer doesn’t stick.
Some printer drivers reset to default after each job. Check if there’s a “Save as default� option in the printer properties. - Misconception: You can reverse the order by changing the page order in Excel.
Again, no. The page order only affects which page is numbered “1,� “2,� etc., not the order they come out of the printer.
How to Choose the Right Method
If you print the same worksheet regularly, the printer’s reverse-order setting is the best long-term solution because it’s automatic. If you only need to reverse the order once, you can either use the printer setting or manually print in reverse by specifying the page range (e.g., “10,9,8,…,1â€� if your printer supports comma-separated pages). For Excel-specific control, you can also use a simple VBA macro to print pages in reverse order, but that requires basic coding knowledge and is overkill for most users.
Alternatives to Reverse Printing
- Print to PDF and reorder: Print the worksheet to PDF, then use a PDF viewer to reverse the page order before printing. This gives you full control and works on any printer.
- Copy and paste to a new sheet: If the page breaks are simple, you can copy the content to a new sheet and adjust the page setup so that the pages come out in the order you want. This is labor-intensive but works without any special settings.
- Use a duplex printer’s “flip on long edge� option: For double-sided printing, the printer may automatically handle the order correctly if you select the right duplex option. This doesn’t reverse the order but can avoid the problem of pages being in the wrong sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel have a built-in “reverse print order� option?
Excel itself does not have a direct “reverse print order� checkbox in the main Print dialog for all versions. However, the printer properties often include such an option, and some versions of Excel show a “Print pages in reverse order� checkbox under the Print settings. If you don’t see it, use the printer’s setting.
Why does my printer print pages in reverse order automatically?
Some printers have a default setting to print in reverse order to save time or because the output tray is at the top. If you don’t want that, you can change it in the printer preferences. Check the “Finishing� or “Layout� tab in the printer properties.
Can I reverse the order of pages in a PDF exported from Excel?
Yes. After exporting to PDF, you can use a PDF editor or viewer to reorder pages. Many free PDF readers allow you to rearrange pages, and you can then print the PDF in the new order.
What is the difference between “Over, then down� and “Down, then over�?
These options control the sequence of page numbering when a worksheet spans multiple pages both horizontally and vertically. “Over, then down� numbers pages left to right, then down; “Down, then over� numbers pages top to bottom, then right. Neither reverses the physical print order.
How do I print only certain pages in reverse order?
If you know the page numbers, you can type them in reverse in the “Pages� box (e.g., “5-1� or “5,4,3,2,1�). However, not all printers accept a descending range, so you may need to print each page individually or use the printer’s reverse-order option.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.