Change the Default Number of Worksheets in Your Excel Workbook

The default Excel workbook begins with three worksheets. 

Perhaps the reason is the very solid advice that most models should have three tabs: input, output, and calculation. 

But most of my workbooks are exercise demonstrations, and I use only one tab. Maybe you also find yourself deleting extra worksheets frequently.

Here’s how to change your default number of workbooks:

How it works:

Under File -> Options, the “General” tab has a section called “When creating new workbooks.” The last entry is “Include this many sheets.”

Change to your desired number, and get started with your first new workbook by keying Ctrl + N to open a new one.

Like many Excel tips, maybe it’s not an epiphany. But implemented over hours and hours, these little tips amount to huge time savings.

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