How to add or remove a cell, column, or row in Excel

How to add or remove a cell, column, or row in Excel

Below is information about how to add and remove a cell, column, or row in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

• Adding a cell
• Removing a cell
• Adding a row
• Removing a row
• Adding a column
• Removing a column

Adding a cell
Note: When adding a new cell, you will move (shift) the data around that cell down or to the right depending on how you choose to shift the data. If there is data in adjacent cells that line up with the selected cell it will become unaligned. In some situations, it may be better to add a new column or add a new row instead of a new cell.

To add a new individual cell to an excel spreadsheet follow the steps below.

• Select the cell of where you want to insert a new cell by clicking the cell once with the mouse.
• Right-click on the cell of where you want to insert a new cell.
• In the Right-click menu that appears select Insert.
• Choose either Shift cells right or Shift cells down depending on how you want to affect the data around the cells.
• Removing a cell

Note: When removing a cell, you will move (shift) the data around that cell up or to the left depending on how you choose to shift the data. If there is data in adjacent cells that line up with the selected cell it will become unaligned.

To remove a cell from an excel spreadsheet follow the steps below.

• Right-click on the cell you want to remove.
• In the Right-click menu that appears select Delete.
• Choose either Shift cells left or Shift cells up depending on how you want to affect the data around the cells.

Adding a row in Excel

Excel 2007 and later

• Select the cell where you want to add a row. For example, if you wanted to add a row on the '3' row, you would select the A3 cell or any other cell in row 3.
• On the Home tab in the Ribbon menu, click Insert and select Insert Sheet Rows. You can also right-click on the selected cell, select Insert, then select the Entire row option.

Tip: If you want to add multiple rows at once, highlight more than one row, then click Insert and select Insert Sheet Rows. For example, if you wanted to add four rows beginning at row 3, you would highlight row 3 and the three rows following it. Do this by clicking and dragging your mouse on the number 3, 4, 5, and 6, then click Insert and select Insert Sheet Rows.

Excel 2003 and earlier

• Select the cell where you want to add a row. For example, if you wanted to add a row on the '3' row, you would select the A3 cell or any other cell in row 3. 
• In the menu bar, click Insert and select Rows. This option will not be available if you're highlighting columns and not rows.
  

Tip: If you want to add multiple rows at once, highlight more than one row and then click Insert and select Rows. For example, if you wanted to add four rows beginning at row 3, you would highlight row 3 and the three rows following it. Do this by clicking and dragging your mouse on the number 3, 4, 5, and 6, then click Insert, and select Rows.

Removing a row in Excel

Excel 2007 and later

• Highlight the row or rows you want to delete.
• On the Home tab in the Ribbon menu, click Delete and select Delete Sheet Rows. You can also right-click with your mouse on the highlighted row and select Delete.

Using the above steps will delete the row or rows and move the rows under the deleted rows up. If you just want to delete the contents of the rows, press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Excel 2003 and earlier

• Highlight the row or rows you want to delete.
• In the menu bar, click Edit and select Delete. You can also right-click with your mouse on the highlighted row and select Delete.

Using the above steps will delete the row or rows and move the rows under the deleted rows up. If you just want to delete the contents of the rows, press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Adding a column in Excel
Excel 2007 and later

• Select the cell where you want to add a column. For example, if you wanted to add a column on the 'C' column, you would select the C1 cell or any other cell in column C.
• On the Home tab in the Ribbon menu, click Insert and select Insert Sheet Columns. You can also right-click on the selected cell, select Insert, then select the Entire column option.

Tip: If you want to add multiple columns at once, highlight more than one column, click Insert and select Insert Sheet Columns. For example, if you want to add four rows on column C, highlight column C and the three columns to the right of it by clicking and dragging on the letters C, D, E, and F. Then click Insert and select Insert Sheet Column.

Excel 2003 and earlier

• Select the cell where you want to add a column. For example, if you wanted to add a column on the 'C' column, you would select the C1 cell or any other cell in column C.
• In the menu bar, click Insert and select Columns. This option will not be available if you're highlighting rows and not columns.

Tip: If you want to add multiple columns at once, highlight more than one column, click Insert and select Columns. For example, if you want to add four rows on column C, highlight column C and the three columns to the right of it by clicking and dragging on the letters C, D, E, and F. Then click Insert and select Column.

Removing a column in Excel

Excel 2007 and later

• Highlight the column or columns you want to delete.
• On the Home tab in the Ribbon menu, click Delete and select Delete Sheet Columns. You can also right-click with your mouse on the highlighted column and select Delete.

Using the above steps will delete the column or columns and move the columns to the right over to the left. If you just want to delete the contents of the columns, press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Excel 2003 and earlier

Highlight the column or columns you want to delete.

• In the menu bar, click Edit and select Delete. You can also right-click with your mouse on the highlighted column and select Delete.
• Using the above steps will delete the column or columns and move the columns to the right over to the left. If you just want to delete the contents of the columns, press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Related Articles:)

How to hide rows or columns in Excel.
How to select an entire row or column in a spreadsheet.
See our column, excel, and row definitions for further information and related links on these terms.
Microsoft Excel help and support.