Create a new workbook

A workbook is a file that contains one or more worksheets to help you organize data. You can create a new workbook from a blank workbook or a template.

Newer versions Office 2010

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Create a workbook

1. Open Excel.

2. Select Blank workbook or press Ctrl+N. 

3. Start typing.

Create a workbook from a template

1. Select File > New.

2. Double-click a template.

3. Click and start typing.

Open a new, blank workbook

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click New.

3. Under Available Templates, double-click Blank Workbook.

   Keyboard shortcut  To quickly create a new, blank workbook, you can also press CTRL+N.

Tips: 

• By default, a new workbook contains three worksheets, but you can change the number of worksheets that you want a new workbook to contain.

  For more information, see Change the number of worksheets in a new workbook.

• You can also add and remove worksheets as needed.

  For more information about how to add or remove worksheets, see Insert or delete a worksheet.

Base a new workbook on an existing workbook

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click New.

3. Under Templates, click New from existing.

4. In the New from Existing Workbook dialog box, browse to the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the workbook that you want to open.

5. Click the workbook, and then click Create New.

Base a new workbook on a template

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click New.

3. Do one of the following:

   • To use one of the sample templates that come with Excel, under Available Templates, click Sample Templates and then double-click the template that you want.

   • To use a recently used template, click Recent Templates, and then double-click the template that you want.

   • To use your own template, on the My Templates, and then on the Personal Templates tab in the New dialog box, double-click the template that you want.

     Note: The Personal Templates tab lists the templates that you have created. If you do not see the template that you want to use, make sure that it is located in the correct folder. Custom templates are typically stored in the Templates folder, which is usually C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Templates in Windows Vista, and C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates in Microsoft Windows XP.

Tip: To obtain more workbook templates, you can download them from Microsoft Office.com. In Available Templates, under Office.com Templates, click a specific template category, and then double-click the template that you want to download.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community, get support in the Answers community, or suggest a new feature or improvement on Excel User Voice.

See Also

Insert or delete a worksheet