The fastest way to delete multiple rows at once

To delete multiple rows in Excel, select all the rows you want to remove, then right-click and choose Delete. Excel removes them when ready and shifts the remaining rows up. You do not need to delete rows one at a time — selecting a range and deleting together takes the same effort as deleting one.

The method changes slightly depending on whether the rows you want to delete are next to each other or scattered throughout your sheet. Both approaches take under a minute once you know where to click.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the row number on the left side of the sheet to select an entire row, then hold Shift and click another row number to select a continuous block.
  • To select rows that are not next to each other, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click each row number individually.
  • Right-click any selected row number and choose Delete to remove all selected rows at once.
  • Deleted rows cannot be recovered unless you undo when ready with Ctrl+Z, so double-check your selection before you delete.

Selecting rows that sit next to each other

If the rows you want to delete are consecutive — rows 5 through 9, for example — use Shift+click to select them all at once. Click the row number 5 on the left edge of the sheet. The entire row highlights in blue. Now hold Shift and click row number 9. Excel selects rows 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 together.

You can select as many consecutive rows as you need this way. The Shift method works because it tells Excel "select everything from here to there" rather than making you click each one. Once all the rows you want are highlighted, move to the next step.

Selecting rows scattered across the sheet

If the rows you want to delete are not next to each other — for instance, row 3, row 7, and row 15 — use Ctrl+click (Cmd+click on Mac) instead. Click row number 3 first. It highlights. Now hold Ctrl and click row number 7. Both rows stay highlighted. Continue holding Ctrl and click row number 15. All three rows are now selected, even though they are not touching.

This method lets you pick and choose exactly which rows to remove without selecting the ones in between. It is useful when you want to delete data from specific places in your sheet but keep everything else intact.

Right-clicking and deleting the selected rows

Once you have selected all the rows you want to remove — whether they are next to each other or scattered — right-click on any of the highlighted row numbers. A menu appears with several options. Click the word Delete. Excel removes all selected rows when ready and shifts every row below them up to fill the gap.

The rows are gone from the sheet, but you can undo the deletion if you made a mistake. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) right away to bring the rows back. If you wait or perform other actions first, undo may not work.

What happens to your data after deletion

When you delete rows, Excel does not leave blank spaces. Every row below the deleted ones moves up automatically. If you deleted rows 5 through 7, what was row 8 becomes row 5, what was row 9 becomes row 6, and so on. This keeps your data compact and prevents gaps in your sheet.

Any formulas that reference rows you deleted will show an error if they pointed to those specific rows. For example, if a formula said "add up row 5" and you delete row 5, that formula breaks. Formulas that reference a range (like "add rows 1 through 10") adjust automatically when rows within that range are deleted.

Deleting rows without losing data you need

Before you delete, take a moment to confirm you are removing the right rows. Scroll through your selection and look at the row numbers highlighted in blue. If you selected too many or the wrong ones, click somewhere else on the sheet to deselect, then start over with your selection.

If you are unsure whether you need the data, copy the rows to a different sheet or a new file first. Select the rows, press Ctrl+C to copy, open a new sheet, and paste them there. This way you have a backup if you realize later you needed that information. Then come back to your original sheet and delete with confidence.

Using filters to delete rows by category

If you want to delete many rows that share something in common — all entries from a certain date, or all rows where a column says "inactive" — use Excel's filter feature instead of selecting manually. Click any cell in your data, then go to the Data menu and click Filter. Small dropdown arrows appear at the top of each column.

Click the dropdown arrow in the column you want to filter by. Uncheck the items you want to keep and check only the items you want to delete. Excel hides all the rows that do not match your filter. Now select all the visible rows (the ones you want to delete), right-click, and delete. When you turn the filter off, only the rows you wanted to keep remain. This method is faster than clicking individual rows when you are removing dozens at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deletion after I close the file?

No. Undo only works while the file is open in your current session. Once you close Excel and reopen the file, the deleted rows are gone permanently. Always save a backup copy of important spreadsheets before deleting large sections of data.

What if I delete the wrong rows by mistake?

Press Ctrl+Z when ready to undo. Excel restores the rows you just deleted. If you have already performed other actions since the deletion, undo may restore those actions instead. Work quickly if you realize the mistake.

Do I have to delete entire rows, or can I delete just the data inside them?

You can do either. To delete only the data and keep the empty rows, select the cells (not the row numbers), press Delete, and the contents disappear. To delete the entire rows and shift everything up, select by row number and use the Delete command as described above.

Will deleting rows affect my charts or pivot tables?

Charts and pivot tables based on your data will update automatically when you delete rows. If a chart was showing all your data and you delete some rows, the chart adjusts to show only what remains. Check your charts after deleting to make sure they still display what you intended.

How do I delete rows based on a condition, like all rows where a value is blank?

Use the filter method described above. Filter to show only the blank cells in that column, select all visible rows, and delete them. Alternatively, you can sort by that column to group all blank entries together, then select and delete them as a block.