To insert a picture into a cell in Excel, select the cell, go to Insert > Pictures > Place in Cell, choose This Device, pick the picture, and select Insert. The picture fits inside the cell and moves, sorts, and filters along with your data. This works in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024.
The steps in this guide come from Microsoft’s Insert a picture with the Place in Cell feature in Excel and IMAGE function articles, checked in October 2026. If you use Excel 2021 or earlier, skip to the section on older versions.
Picture in a Cell vs. Picture Over Cells
Excel can hold a picture in two ways. A picture over cells floats on top of the sheet, like a sticker; it does not move when you sort or filter, and it can cover your data. A picture in a cell becomes the value of that cell, so it stays with its row when you sort, filter, or move cells. For product lists, inventories, or staff directories, a picture in a cell is usually what you want.
Excel supports these file types for pictures in cells: JPG/JPEG, PNG, BMP, ICO, WEBP, TIF/TIFF, and non-animated GIF.
How to Insert a Picture Into a Cell From the Ribbon
- Click the cell where you want the picture.
- Select the Insert tab, then go to the Illustrations group.
- Select Pictures, then Place in Cell. Result: a menu of picture sources appears.
- Choose This Device for a file on your computer, Stock Images for Microsoft’s free image library, or Online Pictures to search the web.
- Select the picture, then select Insert. Result: the picture appears inside the cell, sized to fit.
Insert several pictures at once
In step 5, select more than one picture before you select Insert. Excel places them one per cell, starting with the cell you selected and moving down the column. Warning: this overwrites anything already in those cells, so start in an empty column.
Other Ways to Put a Picture in a Cell
Paste a picture from the clipboard
Copy a picture, right-click the cell, and under Paste Options select Paste Picture in Cell. Note that pressing Ctrl+V pastes the picture over the cells instead, so use the right-click option.
Convert a floating picture
Select a picture that floats over the sheet, then either select Place in Cell on the Picture Format tab or right-click the picture and select Place in Cell. The picture moves into the top-left cell it was covering.
Use the IMAGE function for a web picture
The IMAGE function shows a picture from a web address. Its syntax is =IMAGE(source, [alt_text], [sizing], [height], [width]). The source must be an https link to the image file, for example =IMAGE("https://example.com/photo.png", "Blue mug"). The sizing argument controls how the picture fits:
| Sizing value | What it does |
|---|---|
| 0 (default) | Fits the picture in the cell and keeps its proportions |
| 1 | Fills the cell and ignores proportions |
| 2 | Keeps the original size, which may spill past the cell |
| 3 | Uses the custom height and width you enter, in pixels |
A few limits from Microsoft: links that need a sign-in will not show, redirected links are blocked, and the formula has a 255-character URL limit. For a long link, paste the image address into a cell and reference that cell, such as =IMAGE(F10). The IMAGE function works in Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, and the Excel mobile apps.
Make the Picture Bigger or Smaller
A picture in a cell always fits the cell, so resize the cell to resize the picture. Drag the row border down to make the row taller and the column border right to make it wider. To set an exact size for many rows at once, select them, right-click, and choose Row Height.
Switch Back to a Floating Picture
To free a picture so you can drag and resize it on its own, right-click it and choose Picture in Cell > Place over Cells.
Add Alt Text
Microsoft recommends adding alt text so people who use screen readers know what the picture shows. Right-click the picture in the cell, choose View Alt Text, and type a short description in the side pane. For the IMAGE function, add the description as the second argument.
Older Versions of Excel
Excel 2021 and earlier do not have Place in Cell. Instead, insert the picture with Insert > Pictures, drag its corners until it fits inside the cell, then right-click it, select Size and Properties, and choose Move and size with cells under Properties. The picture still floats, but it now moves and resizes along with the cell underneath it.
If Place in Cell Is Missing
- Check your version. Place in Cell needs Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024.
- Update Excel. In Excel, go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
- Check the file type. Animated GIFs and unsupported formats will not go into a cell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the picture stay with its row when I sort?
Yes. A picture placed in a cell is part of that cell, so it moves with the row when you sort or filter.
Can I put text and a picture in the same cell?
No. The picture becomes the value of the cell. Put the text in the cell next to it instead.
Why does Ctrl+V put the picture on top of the cells?
Ctrl+V pastes pictures over cells by default. Right-click the cell and choose Paste Picture in Cell instead.
More Excel Guides
- How to resize a single cell in Excel to make room for bigger pictures.
- How to add a column in Excel for a new picture column.
- How to color cells in Excel.
- Browse all of our Excel guides.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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