---
title: WinForms Grid Control | .NET Grid for Windows Forms | Syncfusion
description: The WinForms grid control (.NET grid) is a high performance display engine for tabular data that can be customized down to the cell level.
platform: WindowsForms
control: CellGrid
---

# WinForms Grid - A High Performance Control

* Displays data in a tabular format in virtual mode regardless of the structure of data.
* Includes an Excel-like rich feature set that supports editing, selection, cell merging, cell comments, and more.
* Completely customizable at any level of a cell, row, or column for an intuitive UI experience.

![winforms grid control banner](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-banner.png)

## Overview
The WinForms grid control is a cell-oriented control for displaying tabular data. Users can customize it down to the cell level. It can be used virtually, in which data is provided on-demand in real time, or the cell grid maintains data within its own internal structures. Its rich feature set includes editing, cell styling, data formatting, covered cells, various cell editors, clipboard operations, formulas, Excel-like selection, frozen rows and columns, exporting, and more.

## High performance

![winforms grid control instant loading](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-instant-loading.png)
### Instant Loading
Load millions of rows and columns in less time. Supports on-demand data loading.

![winforms-grid-control-smooth-scrolling](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-smooth-scrolling.png)
### Smooth Scrolling
Provides a smooth scrolling experience even with millions of rows and columns.

![winforms grid control virtual mode](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-virtual-mode.png)
### Virtual grid
On-demand data population lets you dynamically provide date to the grid by handling an event, QueryCellInfo, and it does not store data in its internal storage. This means the grid can be loaded with millions of rows and columns instantly.

* [Virtual grid documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/virtual-grid)

![winforms grid control internal storage](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-internal-storage.png)
### Internal storage
Users can populate the grid by storing cell styles in its internal storage. The cell style contains various properties for storing cell appearance and values.

## Seamless editing experience

* Support for built-in cell types such as checkbox, button, combobox, and more.
* Embed any control in a cell to view or edit data.
* Built-in data validation to validate cells and display error information.

* [Learn more about editing](grid-control/editing)
![winforms grid control editing](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-editing.png)

## Excel-inspired formula calculation

* The WinForms grid control (.NET grid) supports Excel-like formulas for calculating the value of a cell.
* An extensive formula library that supports more than 400 built-in formulas. Users can add custom logic formula as required.
* Supports cross-sheet references and named ranges similar to Excel.
![winforms grid control formula calculations](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-formula-calculations.png)

## Selection

* Users can select a range of cells, rows, or columns with customizable selection color.
* Enable Excel-like selection frame in the grid.
![winforms grid control selection](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-selection.png)

## Style

![winforms grid control data formatting](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-data-formatting.png)
### Data formatting
Users can customize cell styles at any level and format data as required. Customize each cell’s appearance by changing the font, background, borders, and more. Cell styles can be applied to any range of cells, rows, columns, and tables.

![winforms grid control conditional formatting](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-conditional-formatting.png)
### Conditional formatting
Customize the appearance of cells, rows, or columns conditionally based on cell values.

## Built-in themes
The WinForms Grid control (.NET Grid) provides built-in themes support to adapt the control to the rest of your business application. Some of the different built-in themes include:

* Metro
* Office 2016, 2010, 2007, and 2003.

Users can customize the built-in themes or write their own custom themes.
![winforms grid control office2016 dark gray theme](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-office2016-dark-gray-theme.png)

## Row and column resizing

* Column width and row height can be adjusted (auto-fit) based on the content of any row, column, or column header.
* Users can also resize the columns or rows like Excel by resizing column or row headers.
![winforms grid control column resizing](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-column-resizing.png)

## Smooth scrolling

* Supports both accelerated scrolling and deferred scrolling.
* Common scroll bars can be used for two or more grids.
* Tooltips display additional information when scrolling vertically or horizontally.

[Scrolling documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/scrolling)
![winforms grid control scrolling](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-scrolling.png)

## Excel-like features
Users can interact with the grid similar to Excel. Provides the following rich, Excel-like features:

* Cell merging
* OLE drag and drop
* Cell comment
* Fill and copy series
* Freeze panes
* Floating cells
* Format cell dialog
* Find and replace dialog
* Split pane

* [Learn more about Excel-like features](grid-control/excel-like-features)
![winforms grid control ole drag and drop](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-ole-drag-and-drop.png)

## Multiple document view
An MFC application is usually designed using the document-view pattern. Grid provides complete separation of its data and display details. This allows users to easily implement multiple views of the same data, similar to MFC document-view applications.
![winforms grid control multiple views](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-multiple-views.png)

## Record navigation bar

* Navigate between records easily using a navigation bar at the bottom of the grid using "RecordNavigationControl".
* Customize the record navigation bar appearance.
* Supports built-in themes such as Metro, Office 2016, and more.

* [Record navigation bar documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/record-navigation-control)

![winforms grid control record navigation bar](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-record-navigation-bar.png)

## Tooltip
Tooltips display additional hints or information about cells . Users can customize the appearance of the tooltips.

* [Tooltip documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/tooltip)

![winforms grid control tooltip](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-tooltip.png)

## Zooming
View the grid content clearly by zooming in and out as required.

* [Zooming documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/zooming)

![winforms grid control zooming](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-zooming.gif)

## Importing and Exporting

![winforms grid control virtual importing](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-virtual-importing.png)
### Import and Export

* Import a Microsoft Excel file and preserve the look and feel in the grid.

* [Importing documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/importing)

* A rich set of options for exporting data to Microsoft Excel file formats, PDF, CSV, Word, and HTML.

* [Exporting documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/exporting)

![winforms grid control print illustration](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-print-illustration.png)
### Print
Built-in support for print and print preview dialogs with numerous customization options.

## Serialization
Serialize the WinForms grid control (.NET grid) settings to XML, SOAP, Binary format, and load back (deserialization) to grid.

[Serialization documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/serialization)

## UI Automation
Compatible with Coded UI and UFT (formerly QTP) automation tools.

* [UI Automation documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/coded-ui-automation)

![winforms grid control print illustration](https://ft.syncfusion.com/featuretour/winforms/images/grid-control/winforms-grid-control-ui-automation-illustration.png)

## WinForms Grid Code Example

Easily get started with the WinForms Grid using a few simple lines of C# code example as demonstrated below. Also explore our [WinForms Grid Example](https://github.com/syncfusion/winforms-demos/tree/master/gridcontrol) that shows you how to configure a C# WinForms Grid.

using Syncfusion.Windows.Forms.Grid;
namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
 public partial class Form1 : Form
 {
 public Form1()
 {
 InitializeComponent();
 GridControl gridControl = new GridControl();
 gridControl.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
 gridControl.RowCount = 100;
 gridControl.ColCount = 100;
 this.Controls.Add(gridControl);
 }
 }
}

## Not sure how to create your first WinForms Grid Control? Our documentation can help.

* [I’d love to read it now](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/getting-started)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why should you choose Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control?

The Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control provides the following:

- Display data in a tabular format in virtual mode regardless of structured data.
- Includes an Excel-like rich feature set that supports [editing](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/editing), [selection](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/selection), [cell merging](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/cell-merging), cell comments, and more.
- Completely customizable at any level of a cell, row, or column for an intuitive UI experience.
- Allows entering algebraic expressions using formulas and cell references.
- [Export data](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/exporting) from grid to Excel, PDF, Word, CSV, and HTML.
- One of the best WinForms Grid Control in the market that offers a feature-rich UI.
- Simple configuration and API.
- Touch friendly and responsive.
- Extensive [demos](https://github.com/syncfusion/winforms-demos/tree/master/gridcontrol) and [documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/getting-started) to learn quickly and get started with WinForms Grid Control.

### Can I purchase the Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control separately?

No, our 1,600+ WinForms controls, including Grid Control, are not sold individually, only as a single package. However, we have competitively priced the product so it only costs a little bit more than what some other vendors charge for their Grid Control alone. We have also found that, in our experience, our customers usually start off using one of our products and then expand to several products quickly, so we felt it was best to offer all 1,600+ WinForms controls for a flat fee of **$995/developer**. On top of this, we might be able to offer additional discounts based on currently active promotions. Please contact our [sales team](https://www.syncfusion.com/company/contact-us) today to see if you qualify for any additional discounts.

### What is the price for Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control?

We do not sell the WinForms Grid Control separately. It is only available for purchase as part of the Syncfusion WinForms suite, which contains over 1,600 WinForms controls, including Grid Control. A single developer license for the [Syncfusion Essential Studio for WinForms suite](https://www.syncfusion.com/sales/teamlicense) costs **$995.00 USD**, including one year of support and updates. On top of this, we might be able to offer additional discounts based on currently active promotions. Please contact our [sales team](https://www.syncfusion.com/company/contact-us) to see if you qualify for any additional discounts.

### Can I download and utilize the Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control for free?

No, this is a commercial product and requires a paid license. However, a [free community license](https://www.syncfusion.com/products/communitylicense) is also available for companies and individuals whose organizations have less than $1 million USD in annual gross revenue and five or fewer developers.

### Where can I find the Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control demo?

You can find our WinForms Grid Control demo on

GitHub [location](https://github.com/syncfusion/winforms-demos/tree/master/gridcontrol).

### How do I get started with Syncfusion WinForms Grid Control?

A good place to start would be our comprehensive [getting started documentation](https://help.syncfusion.com/windowsforms/grid-control/getting-started).