The fastest way to delete a pivot table
To delete a pivot table in Excel, click anywhere inside the table, then go to the PivotTable Design tab (or PivotTable Analyze tab in some versions) and select Delete. In Google Sheets, right-click the pivot table and choose Delete pivot table. Both programs remove the entire table but leave your original data untouched — the source data stays in its original location.
The key difference from deleting a regular table is that a pivot table is a separate object built from your source data, not the data itself. Deleting the pivot table does not delete the rows and columns it summarized. If you want to keep the pivot table but just remove it from view, you can also hide it or move it to a different sheet instead of deleting it entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a pivot table removes only the summary table, not the original data it was built from.
- In Excel, click inside the pivot table, go to the PivotTable Design tab, and select Delete.
- In Google Sheets, right-click the pivot table and choose Delete pivot table from the menu.
- If you want to keep the data but change how it looks, you can edit the pivot table instead of deleting it.
Deleting a pivot table in Excel
Click any cell inside the pivot table you want to remove. The moment you click inside it, Excel highlights the entire table with a border and shows the PivotTable Design tab in the ribbon at the top. If you do not see this tab, you are not inside a pivot table — check that you clicked in the right place.
Once the PivotTable Design tab is visible, look for the Delete button. In most versions of Excel, this button is on the far right side of the Design tab. Click it, and Excel will ask you to confirm. Select Delete again, and the entire pivot table disappears. Your original data remains in its original cells, unchanged.
If you have multiple pivot tables on the same sheet, you must delete them one at a time. Click inside each table separately and repeat the process. This prevents you from accidentally removing a pivot table you meant to keep.
Deleting a pivot table in Google Sheets
Right-click anywhere inside the pivot table. A menu will appear with several options. Look for Delete pivot table near the bottom of the menu and click it. Google Sheets removes the pivot table when ready — there is no confirmation step. Your source data stays where it was.
If you cannot find the delete option, make sure you right-clicked inside the pivot table itself, not in the empty space around it. The menu changes depending on where you click. Once you are inside the table, the delete option should appear.
What happens to your data when you delete a pivot table
Deleting a pivot table never touches your original data. If your pivot table summarized sales by region from a sheet called "Raw Sales," that Raw Sales sheet remains exactly as it was. The pivot table was always a separate object that pulled information from your source data — removing it does not reverse that process or change the source.
This is different from deleting a regular table or range of cells. When you delete a pivot table, you are only removing the summary view, not the underlying information. If you realize later that you need the pivot table back, you can create a new one from the same source data using the same fields and layout.
Hiding or moving a pivot table instead of deleting it
If you are not sure whether you want to keep a pivot table, you have options besides deletion. In Excel, you can move a pivot table to a different sheet by right-clicking it and selecting Move PivotTable. This keeps the table intact but puts it somewhere you do not see it every day. You can move it back to the original sheet later if you change your mind.
In Google Sheets, you cannot hide a pivot table the way you hide rows or columns, but you can move it to a separate sheet. Create a new sheet, then cut and paste the pivot table there. This keeps it out of your way without deleting it. If you need it again, it is still available on that other sheet.
Editing a pivot table instead of deleting it
Before you delete a pivot table, consider whether you actually want to change it instead. If the table shows the wrong summary, includes fields you do not need, or groups data in a way that no longer makes sense, you can edit it without starting over. Click inside the pivot table and look for the PivotTable Design tab in Excel or the edit icon in Google Sheets.
From there, you can add or remove fields, change how data is grouped, or adjust which rows and columns appear. This is much faster than deleting the table and building a new one from scratch. You keep the same structure and only change the parts that are not working for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a pivot table delete the original data?
No. A pivot table is a summary view of your data, not the data itself. Deleting the pivot table removes only the summary table. Your original data stays in its original location and remains unchanged.
Can I undo a deleted pivot table?
Yes, in both Excel and Google Sheets you can press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) when ready after deleting to undo the deletion. If you wait too long or close the file, the undo may no longer work. If that happens, you can create a new pivot table from the same source data.
What if I delete a pivot table by accident?
Use undo (Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) right away to bring it back. If you have already closed the file or the undo history is gone, you can rebuild the pivot table by selecting your source data and creating a new pivot table with the same fields and layout as before.
Can I delete just part of a pivot table?
No. A pivot table is a single object — you delete the whole thing or nothing. If you want to remove certain rows or columns from the view, edit the pivot table instead by unchecking the fields you do not want to see.