WallStreetMojo

WallStreetMojo

WallStreetMojo

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Certification Courses
  • Excel VBA All in One Bundle
  • Login
Home » Excel, VBA & Power BI » Adding Columns in Excel

Adding Columns in Excel

Excel Add Columns

Sometimes, you can have your data in a format, with all the rows and columns structured. However, let’s suppose you realize that you forgot to add/insert a column or delete a column. You may also want to hide some rows & columns and, if necessary, be able to unhide them. Moving rows or columns is another task you may wish to perform sometime. Excel provides you the option to do all these tasks in your data table. These features become very relevant time & again.

So, the question is, how do we perform these tasks?

Insert Columns in Excel.png

How to Add/Insert Columns in Excel?

Example #1

Suppose you have the first name & last name data in columns A & B, respectively. Suppose you want to insert a middle name. I will show steps for both insertings & deleting below as they are almost similar.

Follow the below steps to get it done:

Firstly, attaching the screenshot for your reference:

Insert Columns Example 1

Suppose you want to insert a column before column B.

To do this, on the “Home” tab on the Excel ribbon, in the ‘Cells’ group, you need to click on Insert. A dropdown will appear as soon as you click on that. From that, select “Insert Sheet Columns.”

Insert Columns Example 1-1

Please keep in mind that, before you click on the “Insert Sheet Columns,” you should be in the cell of a column before which you want to insert a column.

For example, we should be in a cell in column B when we click on “Insert Sheet Columns” as we want to insert a column before column B. You can see below a column is added.

Insert Columns Example 1-2

Example #2 – ShortCut & Alternate Options

Now, a general note about using some shortcuts, here, if you closely see, once you click on “Insert” and the list appears, you will see “Insert Sheet Columns” has its C underlined, that means ‘C’ can be used a keyboard shortcut for it.

An alternate option to insert a column will be, clicking on “Insert” and then just press ‘C’ from the keyboard. This should also do it. For inserting rows, it will be clicking on “Insert” and then just press ‘R’ from the keyboard.

An alternate solution for “Inserting Excel Columns” is that you be present in any of the cells of the column before which you want to insert. Then right-click and click on “Insert.”

Insert Columns Example 2

A dialogue box will appear. Then select “Entire Column” from that dialogue box if you want to insert a column or select “Entire Row” if you’re going to insert a row.

Popular Course in this category
Sale
All in One Excel VBA Bundle (35 Courses with Projects)
4.9 (1,353 ratings)
35+ Courses | 120+ Hours | Full Lifetime Access | Certificate of Completion
View Course

Insert Columns Example 2-1

You can see that a column is inserted before the Last Name column.

Insert Columns Example 2-2

For this option, the shortcut, as we mentioned previously, will be pressing ‘c’ from the keyboard and then press enter (after right-clicking from a cell present in a column before which we want to insert and then clicking on Insert).

Furthermore, another option is to select the entire column before which you want to insert the column. Then right-click and select “Insert.”

Insert Columns Example 2-6

For this option, see that “Insert” has ‘I’ underlined in it. So, the shortcut for it will be to select the relevant column, right-click on it, and press “I.” That should do for inserting an excel column.

Similarly, you can do this for inserting rows by selecting the entire row before which you want to insert. Then right-click and click “Insert.”

Insert Columns Example 2-7

Example #3

Hide and Unhide Rows & Columns

Select the relevant rows or columns, right-click & then click “Hide.”

For Example, Select the columns you want to hide, then right-click and select the “Hide” option.

Add Columns Example 3

Select the rows which you want to hide, then right-click and select the “Hide” option.

Add Columns Example 3-1

Another option is as shown below, select the relevant rows or columns and follow the screenshot.

Go to the Format tab, under the “Hide & Unhide” option, select “Hide columns.”

Add Columns Example 3-2

For unhiding, you need to follow similar steps, except you need to select the rows or columns before & after the rows or columns you need to unhide. (eg. Here, for unhiding columns B & C, we have selected A & D).

Add Columns Example 3-3

Similar steps, as shown above, except clicking on ‘Hide,’ you click on ‘unhide.’

Add Columns Example 3-4

Moving a Row or Column in Excel

Suppose I want to see the last name column first. See how we do it, explained through a screenshot.

Please select the column which you want to move and Cut it.

Move Example 4

Then Right-click on the column where you want to paste. You will get an “Insert Cut Cells” option.

Move Example 4-1

Another option is below:

In the Insert Cells option, click on “Insert Cut Cells.”

Move Example 4-2

The column will be moved to the selected location, and the columns to the right will shift right.

Move Example 4-3

Inserting & Deleting Rows in Excel

Let’s start with inserting. Suppose you are interested in inserting a row after Ravi (i.e., Row 2). Then how do we do that?

Select any cell in the row after that, i.e., Row 3. Go to the ‘Insert’ option in the ‘Home’ tab & click on ‘Insert Sheet Rows.’

Insert Rows Example 5

A new row is inserted below row 2.

Insert Rows Example 5-1

Now, let’s see about deleting a sheet row. Suppose you are interested in deleting the row that you added in the previous step.

Select any cell in the row after that, i.e., Row 3. Go to the ‘Delete’ option in the ‘Home’ tab & click on ‘Delete Sheet Rows.’

Insert Rows Example 5-2

You can see that a blank row is deleted.

Insert Rows Example 5-3

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Add Columns in Excel. Here we discuss how to add, insert, hide, and move columns in excel along with practical examples. You may learn more about excel from the following articles –

  • Compare Two Columns in Excel for Matches
  • 3 Ways to Show Excel Negative Numbers
  • Rows vs. Columns
  • Move Columns in Excel
0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
All in One Excel VBA Bundle (35 Courses with Projects)
  • 35+ Courses
  • 120+ Hours
  • Full Lifetime Access
  • Certificate of Completion
LEARN MORE >>
Primary Sidebar
Footer
COMPANY
About
Reviews
Contact
Privacy
Terms of Service
RESOURCES
Blog
Free Courses
Free Tutorials
Investment Banking Tutorials
Financial Modeling Tutorials
Excel Tutorials
Accounting Tutorials
Financial Statement Analysis
COURSES
All Courses
Financial Analyst All in One Course
Investment Banking Course
Financial Modeling Course
Private Equity Course
Venture Capital Course
Excel All in One Course

Copyright © 2021. CFA Institute Does Not Endorse, Promote, Or Warrant The Accuracy Or Quality Of WallStreetMojo. CFA® And Chartered Financial Analyst® Are Registered Trademarks Owned By CFA Institute.
Return to top

WallStreetMojo

Free Excel Course

Excel functions, Formula, Charts, Formatting creating excel dashboard & others

* Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Book Your One Instructor : One Learner Free Class
Let’s Get Started
Please select the batch
Saturday - Sunday 9 am IST to 5 pm IST
Saturday - Sunday 9 am IST to 5 pm IST

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

WallStreetMojo

Free Excel Course

Excel functions, Formula, Charts, Formatting creating excel dashboard & others

* Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Login

Forgot Password?

New Year Offer - All in One Financial Analyst Bundle (250+ Courses, 40+ Projects) View More