How to insert new columns in Excel
This post looks at how to add up new columns in Excel 2016 - 2010. Read on to learn shortcuts to insert one or more columns, including nonadjacent ones. Grab and share a special VBA macro to automate adding every other column.
Searching for a good way to insert new columns in your Excel table, you are likely to find lots of different tips and tricks. In this article I hoped to collect the fastest and the most effective ways to add up one or multiple adjoining or non-adjacent columns.
When your report in Excel is almost ready but you understand that it is missing a column to enter important details, grab the time-efficient tricks below. From insert column shortcuts to adding every other column, click the correct link to navigate straight to the point.
Insert column shortcut
If your task is to quickly insert one column, these steps are by far the quickest and simplest.
1. Click on the letter button of the column immediately to the right of where you want to insert the new column.
2. Now just press Ctrl + Shift + + (plus on the main keyboard).
It really takes just two simple steps to insert a new row in Excel. Read on to see how to add up multiple empty columns to your list.
Insert multiple new columns in Excel
You may need to add up more than one new column to your worksheet. It doesn't mean you have to select the columns one by one and press the insert column shortcut in Excel each time. Luckily it's possible to paste several empty columns in one go.
1. Highlight as many columns as there are new columns you want to get by selecting the column buttons. The new columns will appear immediately to the left.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift+ + (plus on main keyboard) to see several new columns inserted.
This is how you can effortlessly add several new columns to your table in Excel. If you need to add multiple non-adjacent columns, see the steps below.
Add up multiple non-adjacent columns
Excel allows selecting multiple non-adjoining columns and use the insert column shortcut to get new columns appear to their left.
1. Select several non-adjacent columns by clicking on their letter buttons and keeping the Ctrl key pressed. The newly inserted columns will appear to the left.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift+ + (plus on main keyboard) to see several new columns inserted en masse.
Add a column to a list formatted as Excel Table
If your spreadsheet is formatted as Excel Table you can you can select the option Insert Table Columns to the Right if it's the last column. You can also pick the option Insert Table Columns to the Left for any column in your table.
1. To insert a column, you need to select the necessary one and right click on it.
2. Then pick Insert -> Table Columns to the Right for the last column or Table Columns to the Left.
The new column will be named Column1 by default.
A special VBA macro to insert every other column
Many Excel users try to save as much time as possible by automating frequent spreadsheet tasks. So, I couldn't leave this post without a macro. Grab this simple piece of code if you need to move the columns apart.
Sub InsertEveryOtherColumn() Dim colNo, colStart, colFinish, colStep As Long Dim rng2Insert As Range colStep = 2 colStart = Application.Selection.Cells(1, 1).Column + 1 colFinish = (ActiveSheet.UsedRange.SpecialCells( _ xlCellTypeLastCell).Column * 2) - colStart Application.ScreenUpdating = False Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual For colNo = colStart To colFinish Step colStep ActiveSheet.Cells(1, colNo).EntireColumn.Insert Next Application.ScreenUpdating = True Application.Calculation = xlCalculationAutomatic End Sub
You may also be interested in
If you often work with Excel on the level of rows and columns, have a look at my previous posts, which can simplify some tasks for you.
Hope these tips will help you in your work with spreadsheets. I always welcome your comments and questions. Be happy and excel in Excel!
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17 responses to "How to insert new columns in Excel"
I'm trying to insert a large number (366) of sequential rows between two exiting rows in Excel 2016. None of the options in your add-ons do this except to insert every x number of rows. I had a look at the VBA macro (scares the crap out of me) and was wondering if by removing the +1 parameter it would stop the row skipping option. Advice please
I am trying to insert a column to the right of the last column in my table, but when I right click on it all it shows is the "insert" tab without any option to the add the column to the left or right. It simply automatically adds the column to the left. How to add a column to the right of the last column in a table?
Have you found an answer to this yet? I've had no luck, and it is extremely frustrating.
I want to give name of Inserted columns please suggest how it will be done by VBA for whole sheet.
I am trying to insert the data from a specific column from a table on one sheet (sheet 2) when I select a drop down item on sheet 1 (drop down is header of the column on sheet 2)on another
Dear Author, This is a great article, but in the Spirit of clarity, please consider the following edit.
Change from this...
1. To insert a column, you need to select the necessary one and right click on it.
...to this...
1. To insert a column, you need to select the necessary one [SELECTING JUST THE COLUMN HEADER CELL] and right click on it.
...and that will work for Excel 2013, because if one selects the whole column itself, then the "insert to the left/right" option does NOT appear, so one has to select JUST the header cell.
HTH.
Thanks and God bless you.
-- Mark Kamoski.
Your tip to select ONLY the column header is exactly what I needed! Thank you!
I have 2500 Data, and I want to Add one row after 10 rows, Can you tell me what should I do in this condition.
This worked Perfectly! Thanks for posting this.
Thank you. This solved my problem.
Sir, while inserting a column in a working page of a worksheet. If insert a column is done the last required column moves to the next page. What type of command to be given to retain the last column and insert a new column in same page of a working sheet.
I've seen no answers on how to insert a column to the right. Excel used to have the option to choose insert column right or left, but now you can only insert on the left, which is quite annoying.
Hi,
Unfortunately, now Excel can only insert a column on the left.
Thank you for sharing this info. A real time saver! Excel should let us insert a number for # of columns, it just seems like such an obvious thing they overlooked. But thanx for the great tip! How in the world did you ever figure THAT out?
I would like to know how to freeze more than just the upper most row? Sometimes my tables have as many as 3 rows of "headers" or rows above where data starts.
Hi!
You can find the detailed instructions in this example: How to freeze multiple rows in Excel.
Hello!
Please check out this article to learn how to lock multiple Excel rows.
Hope this is what you need.