Add and Delete Columns and Rows in Excel

As with all things Microsoft, there is more than one way to add and delete columns and rows in Excel. These instructions show you how to add and delete rows or columns by right clicking on the row header or column header.

The column and row headers are the gray bars along the top and left edges of the worksheet that contain the column letters and row numbers.

Add Rows and Columns

When you add a row to a spreadsheet, the rows of data below the insertion point are pushed down. When you add a column, the columns of data to the right of the insertion point move to the right to make room.

To add more than one row, select more than one row in the row header. To add more than one column, select more than one column in the column header. For example, if you want to add two rows, select two rows in the row header.

To add a row to a spreadsheet

1. Right click on the row header below where you want the new row added.
2. Choose Insert from the menu.
3. The new row will be inserted above the row you selected.

To add multiple rows to a spreadsheet

1. In the row header, select the number of rows you want added to the spreadsheet.
2. Right click on the selected rows.
3. Choose Insert from the menu.
4. The new rows will be inserted above the rows you first selected.

To add a column to a spreadsheet

1. Right click on the column header where you want the new column added.
2. Choose Insert from the menu.
3. The new column will be inserted to the left of the selected column.

To add multiple columns to a spreadsheet

1. In the column header, select the number of columns you want added to the spreadsheet.
2. Right click on the selected columns.
3. Choose Insert from the menu.
4. The new columns will be inserted to the left of the selected columns.

Delete Rows and Columns

Before you delete, it is important to realize that any data located in the rows or columns being deleted will be deleted as well. If you make a mistake use the Undo feature under the Edit menu to get your data back.

To delete a row from a spreadsheet

1. Right click on the row header of the row you want to delete
2. Choose Delete from the menu

To delete multiple rows from a spreadsheet

1. In the row header, select the rows you want to delete.
2. Right click on the selected rows.
3. Choose Delete from the menu.

To delete a column from a spreadsheet

1. Right click on the column you want to delete.
2. Choose Delete from the menu.

To delete multiple columns from a spreadsheet

1. In the column header, select the columns you want to delete.
2. Right click on the selected columns.
3. Choose Delete from the menu.

Formulas and functions and Column and Row changes

When you add or delete columns or rows, the cell references in functions and formulas will usually update automatically.

For example, if you have reference cell D11 in a formula and later add a row above this, the formula will change the reference from D11 to D12 to reflect the fact that row 11 was pushed down to become row 12 once the new row was added.