Customize Ribbon Size to Make it Smaller

I'm extremely disappointed that Microsoft has made the ribbon so HUGE and does not appear to offer any way of customizing its size other than completely collapsing it.  Between the menu bar, the ribbon, the formula bar, etc. almost HALF of the screen real estate is non-content. Microsoft has it backwards, thinking the more screen space should go to the user interface rather than the content. This is maddening, and it's extremely frustrating that Microsoft doesn't allow me to customize the size of the ribbon to maximize content. Does anyone know of a work around?

Nearly 2 yrs later with 2804 post views Microsoft still believes users use Excel 2013 to admire their beautifully designed elephant sized ribbon. The person who designed Windows 8 and this office 2013 ribbon needs to be sued for wasting our time.

none of these answers are helpful, this guy seems to be trying to sell the product.

it stinks, I agree the ribbon is WAY TOO BIG. the interface uses an enormous amount of screen real estate. customizing is non existent.

Geee I got frustrated too on my Office365. It is insane. OK on FHD screen, but I work on 1600x900 screen size. I cannot imagine how it is on common laptop 1300x700somthing. And the formula bar is also wide. Hiding it does not help. Why not making setting for small/medium/large icons, w/wo text. Why everyone knows what is better for me?

I just discovered how to make it more like Word 2010.  Go to the top menu/task bar.  Click on the icon that looks like a finger pointing and choose "mouse."  A quick, simple solution - though not at all intuitive.

I just discovered how to make it more like Word 2010.  Go to the top menu/task bar.  Click on the icon that looks like a finger pointing and choose "mouse."  A quick, simple solution - though not at all intuitive.

Thanks, that's much more like it, in physical terms not a huge difference but make a big difference in the view on my 11.6" screen.

Just a shame the thread has been here for nearly 2 years without anyone being able to answer a simple but as you say unintuitive solution.