Knowing how to move rows and columns in Excel is as important as knowing how to copy and paste – it’s essential. Show
This is something you’d have to do almost all the time while you work in Excel. So what are you waiting for? Dive into the guide below where we have listed all the possible ways (and shortcuts) to move columns and rows in Excel🚀 Also, to tag along with the guide, download our free sample workbook here. Table of Contents How to move columns in ExcelThere are several ways how you can move or rearrange columns in Excel. Let’s look into each of them below: Method # 1: Using the Shift keyThe first (and the basic) method of moving columns in Excel is by using the Shift key. How? Look into the example below to understand that. The data above consists of three columns. Let’s say we want to move column C between Columns A and B. Here’s how we will do that:
Pro Tip! To move the columns in Excel while keeping the original data intact, we need to use the Shift command all along. This helps you move the columns to the targeted place without disturbing other data. However, if you try to move the selected column as above using the Control Key, the targeted column will be replaced 🎯
Column C (Names) is now placed between the column for Order Number and Amount. Also, note how the column letter has automatically adjusted here (Column C is now Column B). You can do the same for rows in Excel. If we had tried to do the same without using the Shift key, Excel would have shown a warning prompt 🚩 And the result would look something like this: The original column B (Amount) is overwritten as we pasted column C in its place. Method # 2: Using the insert, cut, and paste hackThis method is usually used by Excel newbies. And honestly, it’s not a very sophisticated approach for moving columns. Nevertheless, it works well. The process is simple. You just select, insert, cut, paste and delete. Bounced over your head? Don’t worry – we’ve got a detailed explanation below. Let’s use the same dataset as in the example above. And we again want to move column C between columns A and B, but this time, with a new method.
In our case, it’s column B (Amount).
Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist A moving, dotted enclosure will appear around the column. That’s when you’re ready to paste it to the new location.
Too many steps and a little longer process? That is why this is not the best or the primary method to move columns in Excel. Method # 3: Using the CTRL keyJust like we can move columns using the Shift key, we can use the Control key for the same purpose too😍 There’s only one difference between both methods. When you copy columns using the CTRL key, the copied data is pasted into a new column. But, and that’s a big BUT – the data in the pasted column is replaced. Didn’t get it? Let’s understand it through an example below. We are using the same data as earlier, and we want to move Column C using the Control key this time.
What happened here was that when we pressed the Control key, Excel made a copy of column C in place of column B by overwriting column B. You can now delete column C by clicking delete from the context menu. How to move multiple columns at the same timeOkay, so now you know how to move a column in Excel. But do you know how to move multiple columns simultaneously? We bet you don’t, and we’re here to teach you just that😎 Let’s say we have this dataset where we want to move columns B and C and bring them before column A. So, how do we do that? Using the Shift key method as we did previously.
Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist Move columns to other worksheetsNow that we know how to work with columns in a single worksheet, it’s time we see how to move them to another sheet in the same workbook. There’s a small but common hack for moving columns from one sheet to another. Let’s see it here👀 Using the same example as above, we are moving Column A from Sheet 1 to Sheet 3. To do so:
For example, we’ve pasted it in Column A of Sheet 3 as shown below. How to move rows in ExcelWe now know how to work with columns in Excel. Let’s see a brief overview of moving rows in an Excel spreadsheet too. Method # 1: Using the Shift keyThis one’s easy. Simply select the row you want to move, press shift, and drag it to the new position. Let’s see an example here: In the dataset above, the 6th row comes in the wrong order. It should have been in the first position (Row 2). No worries – let’s move it to the right place. For that:
You can do the same for multiple rows by selecting them at once and dragging them to the new position. Method # 2: Using the insert, cut, and paste hack to move rowsYou know this one already, don’t you? It’s an easy hack, and you just need to follow the same steps as with columns.
Now that all the data is organized, we have an empty row (Row 5) in our dataset. You might want to delete it as follows:
Method#3: Using the CTRL KeyYou can also rearrange rows using the Control key. The method is identical to how we moved columns using the Control key. Let’s quickly reiterate it here for moving rows:
That’s it – Now what?In this article, we learned easy hacks to move columns and rows in Excel using Shift, CTRL, and the Insert method🔰 But there is so much more you can do with columns and rows in Excel. And this article doesn’t do justice in covering even 5% of that information. There are tons of other things to Excel that you’d want to learn. And you can start by practicing with some core Excel functions like the VLOOKUP, IF, and SUMIF functions. How do I reorder data in a table in Excel?Under Chart Tools, on the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, click the data series that you want to change the order of. Click the Move Up or Move Down arrows to move the data series to the position that you want.
How do I arrange rows and columns in Excel?Here's how:. Select the range of data you want to rearrange, including any row or column labels, and either select Copy. ... . Select the first cell where you want to paste the data, and on the Home tab, click the arrow next to Paste, and then click Transpose.. How do I reorder multiple columns in Excel?Hold the Ctrl key and select each of the columns in the order you want them displayed. ... . Left-click and hold any one of the columns and drag the mouse to the location you want to place the columns.. |