Rename a Worksheet in Excel

Keeping Track of Worksheet Data in Excel

If you have a large spreadsheet file covering multiple worksheets it can sometimes be difficult keeping track of just where specific data is located.

One way to help you keep things organized is to change the color of individual sheet tabs.

A second option is to rename the worksheet itself.

Example: Rename an Excel Worksheet

1. Right click on the tab of the worksheet you want to rename to open the drop down menu


2. Click on Rename in the menu list to highlight the current worksheet name and switch to edit mode


3. Type the new name for the worksheet such as May Expenses


4. Press the Enter key on the keyboard to complete renaming the worksheet and to exit edit mode


5. The new name should be visible on the worksheet tab

• A second option for renaming a worksheet is to double click on the current name in the worksheet tab which highlights the current name and switches to edit mode as in step 2 above.

Excel Worksheet Name Restrictions

There are a few restrictions when it comes to renaming an Excel worksheet:

• A name cannot exceed 31 characters in length


• The following characters cannot be used \ / ? : * [ ]


• A worksheet name cannot be blank

Using Worksheet Names in Formulas

Renaming a worksheet has the added benefit of making it easier to understand formulas that span multiple worksheets.

When a formula includes a cell reference from a different worksheet the worksheet name is included in the formula.

If the default worksheet names are used - such as Sheet2, Sheet3 - the formula will look something like this:

=Sheet2!C7+Sheet3!C10

Giving the worksheets a descriptive name - such as May Expenses and June Expenses - can make the formula easier to decipher. For example:

='May Expenses'!C7+'June Expenses'!C10