How to Move Columns in Excel: Rearrange with 2 Easy Methods

Editor

posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

19
views

Need to quickly move an entire column in Microsoft Excel? Luckily, it’s a pretty easy procedure. You can select, click and drag columns with your mouse. Or, use the cut and paste commands. This wikiHow article will show you how to select and move columns in Excel on Windows or Mac.

Things You Should Know

On Windows or Mac, select the column, then click and drag the border of the selection to a new location.
On Windows, select the column, then press Ctrl + x to cut the column. Right-click the column to the right of the new destination and select “Insert Cut Cells.”
To move multiple adjacent columns, press Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS). Then, click the column letters above the columns you want to move.

Using the Mouse

Click the letter above the column you want to move. This selects the column. In this method, you’ll use the mouse to drag the column to a new position. This works on Windows and macOS. This method only works for a single column. To move multiple columns, use cut and paste commands (see next method). Moving columns is a great way to set up your spreadsheet for a Vlookup or Sum formula. For general spreadsheet tips, check out our guide on making a spreadsheet in Excel.

Hover the mouse over the border of the selected column. The cursor will turn into four arrows (Windows) or a hand (macOS). The cursor will turn into a hand in the web app version of Excel.

Drag the column to the desired location. Click and drag the selected column to the location where you want to move it, and then release the mouse button. This will cut and replace the column. If you want to copy and replace columns instead of just moving them, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌥ Option (macOS) while dragging and dropping. Holding ⇧ Shift will cut and insert the columns. Holding Ctrl+⇧ Shift will copy and insert the columns.

Using Commands

Click the letter above the column you want to move. This selects the column. The commands method only works on the Windows version of Excel. To move more than one (adjacent) column at the same time, hold down Ctrl as you click each column letter. Formatting your spreadsheet can significantly improve your Excel experience.

Press Ctrl+X. This “cuts” the data in the column, which really just selects it and adds it to the clipboard. The column data will remain in its place until you paste it into its new location. You can also cut the column by clicking the scissors icon on the Home tab. It’s in the “Clipboard” section near the top-left corner of the app. If you cut the wrong column, press Esc to return the data to its original location.

Right-click the letter above the column to the right of where you want to move the data. A drop-down menu will open. When you insert your copied data, it'll be to the left of the column you right-click.

Click Insert Cut Cells on the right-click menu. Excel will insert the cut column to the left of the one on which you right-clicked. If you want to undo the pasted column, press Ctrl+Z. Alternatively, you can click the drop-down icon next to the Insert button on the Home toolbar at the top, and select Insert Cut Cells or Insert Cells here. This will insert and move your data the same way.