What does cursor: cell look like?

A thick plus sign, usually white with a dark outline, like the one in desktop spreadsheet apps.

Is cell the same as crosshair?

No. crosshair is two thin lines for hitting an exact point. cell is a chunky plus for picking whole cells.

Does Windows have a cell cursor I can customise?

Not among the 17 Windows cursor roles. Chrome, Edge and Firefox draw their own, so it still shows on Windows, but a Windows cursor scheme cannot change it.

cursor: cell in CSS: the spreadsheet plus

cursor: cell; Move your mouse over this box Cursors only appear with a mouse or trackpad. Open this page on a computer to see this one.

This is the cursor your browser and system draw for cell.

What it shows

A chunky plus sign, usually white with a dark edge. Windows has no system role for it, so Chrome, Edge and Firefox ship their own image. macOS has a matching cell cursor that browsers use.

Usage

When to use it

Use it for

Grids where clicking selects a cell and dragging selects a range: spreadsheets, timetables, seat maps.
Data tables that support copying a block of cells, as opposed to selecting whole rows.
Pixel editors and calendar pickers where each square can be picked on its own.

Avoid it for

Precise pointing on images, maps or canvases. crosshair is clearer there.
Tables whose rows open a detail view. Use pointer on the row instead.

Code

Copy the snippet

CSS

.sheet td { cursor: cell; }
.sheet td.is-editing { cursor: text; }

HTML

<table class="sheet">
  <tr><td>A1</td><td>B1</td></tr>
  <tr><td>A2</td><td class="is-editing">B2</td></tr>
</table>

Support

Browsers and systems

Browser support for cell
Browser	Support
Chrome	1
Edge	12
Firefox	1.5
Safari	3
Safari on iOS	13.4
Chrome on Android	18

The matching operating system cursor
System	Matching cursor
Windows role	none (browser-supplied)
Windows file	`none`
macOS	Cell (thick plus)

Watch out

Gotchas

Switch the cell being edited to cursor: text so the I-beam returns while people type.
MDN's data lists cell as working on iPad with a trackpad (iOS Safari 13.4), one of the few keywords that does.

FAQ

Questions

What does cursor: cell look like?: A thick plus sign, usually white with a dark outline, like the one in desktop spreadsheet apps.
Is cell the same as crosshair?: No. crosshair is two thin lines for hitting an exact point. cell is a chunky plus for picking whole cells.
Does Windows have a cell cursor I can customise?: Not among the 17 Windows cursor roles. Chrome, Edge and Firefox draw their own, so it still shows on Windows, but a Windows cursor scheme cannot change it.

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