The fastest way to delete a row or column

Right-click on the row number or column letter you want to remove, then click Delete from the menu that appears. Excel removes that row or column when ready and shifts everything below or to the right up or left to fill the space. This works the same way whether you are using Excel on Windows, Mac, or the web version.

If you need to delete multiple rows or columns at once, click on the first one, then hold Shift and click on the last one to select them all. Right-click and choose Delete — Excel removes all of them in one action.

The row numbers or column letters run along the left edge and top of your spreadsheet. Row 1 is at the very top. Column A is at the very left. When you click on a row number, the entire row highlights in blue. When you click on a column letter, the entire column highlights in blue. That blue highlight tells you exactly what will be deleted.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click the row number or column letter and select Delete to remove it when ready.
  • Hold Shift and click to select multiple rows or columns before deleting them all at once.
  • Deleting a row or column shifts everything below or to the right upward or leftward automatically.
  • You can undo a deletion by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after.
  • Clearing the contents of a row or column (without deleting the row or column itself) is a separate action from deletion.

Deleting rows versus clearing their contents

There is a difference between deleting a row and clearing what is inside it. When you delete a row, the row itself disappears and everything below it moves up. When you clear a row, the row stays there but becomes empty. Most of the time you want to delete, not clear.

To clear a row without deleting it, click on the row number to select the entire row, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. The row stays in place but all the data inside it vanishes. This is useful if you have formulas or formatting in rows below that depend on the row numbers staying the same.

If you are not sure which one you need, delete is the safer choice for most spreadsheets. You can always undo it by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) right away.

Selecting and deleting multiple rows or columns at once

Click on the first row or column you want to delete. Then hold down the Shift key and click on the last row or column in the group. All the rows or columns between them, including the first and last ones, will highlight in blue. Right-click anywhere in the blue area and select Delete.

If the rows or columns you want to delete are not next to each other, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click on each one individually. They will all highlight in blue even though they are separated. Right-click and select Delete to remove them all.

Excel removes all the selected rows or columns at the same time and shifts the remaining data to fill the gaps. The order of your remaining rows or columns does not change — only the deleted ones disappear.

What happens to formulas and references when you delete

If other cells in your spreadsheet contain formulas that refer to a deleted row or column, those formulas will show an error like #REF! after the deletion. This happens because the formula is trying to use data that no longer exists. Before you delete a row or column that other formulas depend on, check whether anything else in the spreadsheet refers to it.

To find out what refers to a row or column, click on a cell in that row or column and look at the formula bar at the top of the screen. If you see a formula there, other cells might be using it. You can also use the Find feature (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to search for the row number or column letter throughout the spreadsheet.

If you delete something and formulas break, undo the deletion when ready by pressing Ctrl+Z or Command+Z. Then either fix the formulas first or delete something else instead.

Undoing and redoing deletions

Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo a deletion. This works even if you deleted multiple rows or columns at once. The deleted rows or columns reappear in their original positions with all their data intact. You can undo multiple times in a row to go back through your recent actions.

If you undo a deletion and then change your mind, press Ctrl+Y (Windows) or Command+Y (Mac) to redo it. The rows or columns disappear again. Most people keep undoing and redoing until they get it right, which is much faster than trying to remember what was there.

Undo works only for actions you have done in the current session. If you close the spreadsheet and reopen it, you cannot undo deletions from before you closed it. Save your work before you delete something important if you are not completely sure you want it gone.

Deleting rows or columns in Excel Online

Excel Online works the same way as the desktop version. Right-click on the row number or column letter and select Delete from the menu. The row or column disappears and everything shifts to fill the space. You can select multiple rows or columns using Shift+click or Ctrl+click (or Command+click on Mac) before deleting them all at once.

Undo and redo work the same way in Excel Online as they do on your computer. Press Ctrl+Z or Command+Z to undo, and Ctrl+Y or Command+Y to redo. If you are working in a shared spreadsheet, your deletion affects what everyone else sees when ready, so be careful when deleting rows or columns that other people are using.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a row without losing the data in it?

Yes. Instead of right-clicking and selecting Delete, select the row and press the Delete key on your keyboard. This clears the contents but leaves the row in place. If you want to keep the data, copy it to another location first, then delete the row.

What if I accidentally delete the wrong row?

Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready to undo the deletion. The row reappears with all its data. If you have done other actions since the deletion, you may need to press Ctrl+Z multiple times to get back to the moment before you deleted.

Can I delete rows based on what is in them, like all rows with a certain name?

You can sort or filter your spreadsheet to group rows with the same data together, then select and delete them all at once. Use the Data menu to access Sort or Filter options. This is faster than deleting rows one at a time, but requires a few extra steps.

Does deleting a column delete the header too?

Yes. When you delete a column, the entire column disappears, including the header at the top. If you only want to remove the data but keep the header, select just the cells below the header, not the entire column, and press Delete to clear them.

What if my spreadsheet has frozen rows or columns?

You can delete rows and columns normally even if some are frozen. The frozen rows or columns stay frozen after the deletion. If you delete a frozen row or column, the freeze adjusts to the row or column that is now in that position.