Move or copy cells rows and columns

When you move or copy rows and columns, Excel moves or copies all data that they contain, including formulas and their resulting values, comments, cell formats, and hidden cells.

If the cell contains a formula, the cell reference are not adjusted. Therefore, the contents of the moved or copied cell and of any cells that point to them might display the #REF! error value. If that happens, you will have to adjust the references manually. For more information, see Detect errors in formulas

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You can use the Cut command or Copy command to move or copy selected cells, rows, and columns, but you can also move or copy them by using the mouse.

Follow these steps to move or copy cells:

1. Select the cell, row, or column that you want to move or copy.

2. Do one of the following:

   • To move rows or columns, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Cut .

     

     Keyboard shortcut: Press CTRL+X.

   • To copy rows or columns, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Copy .

     Keyboard shortcut: Press CTRL+C.

3. Right-click a row or column below or to the right of where you want to move or copy your selection, and then do one of the following:

   • When you are moving rows or columns, click Insert Cut Cells.

   • When you are copying rows or columns, click Insert Copied Cells.

     Note: If you click Paste on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group (or press CTRL+V) instead of clicking a command on the shortcut menu, you will replace the existing content of the destination cells.

Move or copy rows and columns by using the mouse

1. Select the row or column that you want to move or copy.

2. Do one of the following:

   • To move rows or columns, point to the border of the selection. When the pointer becomes a move pointer , drag the rows or columns to another location.

   • To copy rows or columns, hold down CTRL while you point to the border of the selection. When the pointer becomes a copy pointer , drag the rows or columns to another location.

     Important: Make sure that you hold down CTRL during the drag-and-drop operation. If you release CTRL before you release the mouse button, you will move the rows or columns instead of copying them.

   When you use the mouse to insert copied or cut columns or rows, the existing content of the destination cells is replaced. To insert copied or cut rows and columns without replacing the existing content, you should right-click the row or column below or to the right of where you want to move or copy your selection, and then click Insert Cut Cells or Insert Copied Cells.

   Note: You cannot move or copy nonadjacent rows and columns by using the mouse.

Move or copy cells

1. Select the cells or range of cells that you want to move or copy.

2. Point to the border of the cell or range that you selected.

3. When the pointer becomes a , do one of the following:

To	Do this
Move cells	Drag the cells to another location.
Copy cells	Hold down OPTION and drag the cells to another location.

Note: When you drag or paste cells to a new location, if there is pre-existing data in that location, Excel will overwrite the original data.

Move or copy rows or columns

1. Select the rows or columns that you want to move or copy.

2. Point to the border of the cell or range that you selected.

3. When the pointer becomes a , do one of the following:

To	Do this
Move rows or columns	Drag the rows or columns to another location.
Copy rows or columns	Hold down OPTION and drag the rows or columns to another location.
Move or copy data between existing rows or columns	Hold down SHIFT and drag your row or column between existing rows or columns. Excel makes space for the new row or column.

Convert columns to rows, or rows to columns

1. Copy the rows or columns that you want to transpose.

2. Select the destination cell (the first cell of the row or column into which you want to paste your data) for the rows or columns that you are transposing.

3. On the Home tab, under Edit, click the arrow next to Paste, and then click Transpose.

   

   Note: Columns and rows cannot overlap. For example, if you select values in Column C, and try to paste them into a row that overlaps Column C, Excel displays an error message. The destination area of a pasted column or row must be outside the original values.

See also

Insert or delete cells, rows, columns