Reorganizing columns in Excel can really help make your data more readable and useful. When you shift columns around, everything goes with it - values, formatting, formulas, comments and even hidden stuff. But, formulas can get a little wonky, sometimes throwing a #REF! error that you’ll need to fix manually.
Method 1: Drag and Drop with the Mouse
Dragging columns is a super quick way to get them where you need them. It lets you visually move things around without a lot of fuss.
-
Start by selecting the column or columns you want to move by clicking on their header. For example, you could click the “C” header to grab column C. Then hover your mouse over the edge of the selected area. You’ll see the cursor change to a four-way arrow icon.
-
Now, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. While still holding shift, click and hold the left mouse button, then drag the column to the spot you want it. You’ll notice a bold green line showing where the column will end up when you drop it.
-
Once the column is in place, release the mouse button first, and then the Shift key. The column will be moved, and the surrounding columns will adjust to their new positions.
It’s really important to keep that Shift key held down until after you’ve released the mouse button. If you don’t, Excel might swap the contents of the column you’re moving with a column that’s already there. If you drag without the shift key, Excel will warn you about potentially replacing data.
If you replace a column’s contents, the original column will become empty, so you may need to delete the empty column.
This method is also useful for moving multiple columns at once. Just select all the columns you need and follow the same steps.
Method 2: Cut and Insert for Precision
If you need to be very precise, the cut-and-insert method is the way to go. This method makes sure you don’t overwrite anything, and is ideal for shuffling columns without accidental data loss.
- First, select the column you want to move by clicking its header. For example, to move column ‘C’, click on the letter ‘C’ at the top of the column. Right-click on the selected column and choose ‘Cut’ from the menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut
Ctrl + X.
- Now, select the header of the column to the right of where you want to move your cut column. For example, if you want your cut column to be placed to the left of column ‘F’, then click on the letter ‘F’ at the top of the column. Right-click on the selected column and choose ‘Insert Cut Cells’. You can also use the shortcut
Ctrl++.
- The cut column will now be inserted before the column you selected, shifting the existing columns to the right. In our example, your column C will now be located in the location which used to be column F.
You can use this to move columns within the same worksheet or even to a different one, simply by pasting into the new sheet.
Method 3: Using the Right-Click Drag
The right-click drag method gives you a bit more control when you’re moving columns, as it presents a menu of options when you release the mouse.
- Select the column you want to move, hover your mouse over its edge until the cursor becomes a four-sided arrow icon.
- Instead of the left mouse button, press and hold the right mouse button and drag the column to where you want it to go. When you release the right button, a context menu will pop up with several choices.
You can select ‘Move Here’ to overwrite the contents of the destination column with the column you’re moving.
Alternatively, choosing ‘Shift Right and Move’ will place the moved column before the selected column, shifting the rest of the columns right.
This menu also allows you to copy columns (with or without formatting), making it super flexible for any kind of data organization.
So, there you have it - three different methods to rearrange columns in Excel. Whether you like the visual drag-and-drop, the precision of cut and insert, or the extra control of the right-click drag, Excel offers several handy options to get the job done!