What you can change in a pivot table after you create it
Once you build a pivot table in Excel, you are not locked into the layout you chose. You can move fields around, change what data appears, swap the summary method from sum to average, filter out rows you do not want to see, and adjust the formatting — all without rebuilding the table from scratch. The edits happen in two places: directly on the pivot table itself for quick changes, or in the Pivot Table Fields panel on the right side of your screen for larger rearrangements.
The most common edits are moving a field from one area to another (dragging a product name from rows to columns, for example), removing a field entirely, and changing how numbers are calculated. All of these take under a minute once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Click anywhere inside the pivot table to make the Pivot Table Fields panel appear on the right side of your screen, where you can drag fields between rows, columns, values, and filters.
- To remove a field from the pivot table, right-click the field name in the Pivot Table Fields panel and select Remove Field, or drag it out of its area.
- Change what numbers show (sum, average, count, minimum, maximum) by right-clicking a number in the Values area and selecting Summarize Values By, then picking a different calculation.
- Filter out specific rows or columns by clicking the dropdown arrow next to a field name in the pivot table itself, then unchecking the items you want to hide.
- Rename a field or value by right-clicking it in the Pivot Table Fields panel and selecting Rename Field, or by double-clicking the label directly in the table.
Open the Pivot Table Fields panel
The Pivot Table Fields panel is your control center for rearranging a pivot table. To open it, click anywhere inside the pivot table you want to edit. The panel appears automatically on the right side of your screen, showing four areas: Filters, Columns, Rows, and Values.
If the panel does not appear, go to the Pivot Table menu at the top of Excel (it only shows when you are inside a pivot table), and click Field List. The panel will open when ready. You should now see all the fields from your original data listed at the top of the panel, with checkboxes next to each one.
Move a field to a different area
Each field in your pivot table lives in one of four areas: Filters (at the top), Columns (across the top), Rows (down the left side), or Values (the numbers in the middle). To move a field, drag it from one area to another in the Pivot Table Fields panel.
For example, if Product is currently in Rows and you want it in Columns instead, find Product in the Rows area of the panel and drag it up to the Columns area. The pivot table updates when ready. You can also drag a field directly from the field list at the top of the panel into any of the four areas — this adds it to the table without removing anything else.
The order matters within each area. If you have two fields in Rows, the top one becomes the outer grouping and the bottom one becomes the inner grouping. Drag fields up or down within an area to change this order.
Remove a field from the pivot table
To stop showing a field in your pivot table, right-click its name in the Pivot Table Fields panel and select Remove Field. The field disappears from the table when ready, but your original data is not affected — you can add it back anytime.
Alternatively, drag the field name out of its area in the panel and drop it anywhere outside the four boxes. This also removes it from the table. If you remove a field by mistake, press Ctrl+Z to undo.
Change how numbers are calculated
By default, Excel sums the numbers in your Values area. If you want to show an average, count, minimum, maximum, or another calculation instead, right-click any number in the Values area of the Pivot Table Fields panel. Select Summarize Values By, then choose the calculation you want.
The entire Values column updates to use the new calculation. If you have multiple fields in the Values area, you can set a different calculation for each one — right-click the specific field name in the Values area, not a number in the table itself. This is useful when you want to show both the sum of sales and the average sale price side by side.
Filter rows and columns in the table
To hide specific items without removing the field entirely, click the dropdown arrow next to any field name in the pivot table itself (not in the panel). A list appears showing every unique value in that field, each with a checkbox. Uncheck the items you want to hide, then click OK. The table updates to show only the checked items.
You can filter multiple fields at once. Each filter works independently, so filtering by Product does not affect your Region filter. To remove a filter and show all items again, click the dropdown arrow and select All.
Filters you add in the Filters area of the panel work the same way but appear at the very top of the table as a separate control, which is useful when you want to switch between different views quickly.
Rename fields and values
To change how a field name appears in your pivot table, right-click the field name in the Pivot Table Fields panel and select Rename Field. Type the new name and press Enter. The label updates everywhere it appears in the table.
You can also double-click a field label directly in the pivot table to rename it in place. This is faster if you only want to change one label. Be careful not to confuse the field name (which you rename in the panel) with the values inside a field (like individual product names) — those are filtered, not renamed, using the dropdown arrows in the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a new field to the pivot table if I did not include it when I first created it?
Yes. If you added a new column to your original data after creating the pivot table, right-click anywhere in the pivot table and select Refresh. Excel will scan your data again and add the new field to the Pivot Table Fields panel. Then drag it into whichever area you want.
What if I want to show both the sum and the average of the same field?
Drag the same field into the Values area twice. Right-click the first copy and set it to Sum, then right-click the second copy and set it to Average. Both columns will appear side by side in your pivot table, each with its own calculation.
How do I undo changes I made to the pivot table?
Press Ctrl+Z to undo your last change. You can undo multiple times to step back through your edits. If you want to start completely over, delete the pivot table and create a new one from your original data.
Can I change the order of rows or columns after I create the pivot table?
Yes. In the Pivot Table Fields panel, drag a field up or down within its area to change the order. The outer field (the one listed first) becomes the primary grouping, and inner fields become subgroups underneath.
What happens to my original data when I edit a pivot table?
Your original data is never changed. A pivot table is a separate summary that reads from your data but does not modify it. You can edit the pivot table as much as you want without affecting the source data.