EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Explore
    • Lifetime Membership
    • All in One Bundles
    • Fresh Entries
    • Finance
    • Data Science
    • Programming and Dev
    • Excel
    • Marketing
    • HR
    • PDP
    • VFX and Design
    • Project Management
    • Exam Prep
    • All Courses
  • Blog
  • Enterprise
  • Free Courses
  • Login
Home Excel Excel Resources Excel Tips Excel Columns to Rows

Excel Columns to Rows

Pradeep S
Article byPradeep S
Madhuri Thakur
Reviewed byMadhuri Thakur

Updated August 16, 2023

Convert Columns to Rows in Excel

Columns to Rows in Excel

In Excel, select the column you want to switch and copy the selected cells or columns to convert any Columns to Rows. Go to the cell where you want to paste the data. Then, select the Transpose option from the Paste option under the Home menu tab. This will convert the selected Columns into Rows. You can also use the shortcut keys Alt + H + V + T, which will directly take us to the TRANSPOSE function.

ADVERTISEMENT
Popular Course in this category
MS Excel Course Bundle - 36 Courses in 1 | 13 Mock Tests

Paste Special Option.

Paste Special Option

The shortcut key for paste special:

Once you have copied the range of cells that need transposed, click on Alt + E + S in a cell where you want to paste a special dialog box popup window with the transpose option.

shortcut key for paste special

How to Convert Columns to Rows in Excel using Transpose?

Converting data from column to row in Excel is very simple and easy. Let’s understand the working of converting columns to rows by using some examples.

You can download this Convert Columns to Rows Excel Template here – Convert Columns to Rows Excel Template

Example #1

The below-mentioned Pharma sales table contains the medicine product code in column C (C10 to C16), quantity sold in column D (D10 to D16) & total sales value in column E (E10 to E16).

Example 1

Here we need to convert its orientation from columns to rows with the help of a special paste option in Excel.

  • Select the whole table range in a spreadsheet, i.e., all the cells with the dataset.
  • Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.

Columns to Rows Example 1-2

  • Select the cell where you want to paste this data set, i.e., G10.

Columns to Rows Example 1-3

  • When you enable right-click on the mouse, the paste option appears. You must then select the 4th option, i.e., Transpose (As mentioned in the below screenshot)

Columns to Rows Example 1-4

  • On selecting the transpose option, your dataset gets copied in that cell range, starting from cell G10 to M112.

Columns to Rows Example 1-5

  • Apart from the above procedure, you can also use a shortcut key to convert columns to rows in Excel.
  • Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.
  • Select the cell where you must copy this data set, i.e., G10.
  • Click on Alt + E + S, and paste a special dialog box popup window that appears, select or click on the box Transpose option, and it will result in or convert column data to rows data in Excel.

Columns to Rows Example 1-6

Copy data is called source data, and when this source data is copied to other ranges, i.e., pasted data, which is referred to as transposed data.

Note: In the other direction, where you will copy raw or source data, you have to select the same number of cells as the original set to avoid overlapping with the original dataset. In the above-mentioned example, there are 7-row cells that are arranged vertically. So when we copy this dataset to the horizontal direction, it should contain 7 column cells towards the other direction to avoid overlapping with the original dataset.

Example #2

Sometimes, when you have a huge number of columns, column data at the end is not visible and does not fit to screen. In this scenario, you can change its orientation from the current horizontal range to the vertical range with the help of the paste special option in Excel.

  • The table contains months and their serial number (From columns C to W).

Example 2

  • Select the whole table range in a spreadsheet, i.e., all the cells with the dataset.
  • Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.
  • Select the cell where you must copy this data set, i.e., C24.
  • When you right-click on the mouse, the paste options appear, in that you have to select the 4th option, i.e., Transpose (Below mentioned screenshot)

Columns to Rows Example 2-2

  • On selecting the transpose option, your dataset gets copied in that cell range starting from cell C24.

Columns to Rows Example 2-3

In the transposed data, all the data values are visible and clear compared to the source data.

Disadvantages of using the Paste special option:

  • Sometimes copy-paste option creates duplicates.
  • If you have used the Paste special option in Excel to convert columns to rows, the transposed cells (or arrays) are not linked to each other with source data, and it does not get updated when you try to change data values in the source data.

Example #3

The transpose function converts columns to rows and rows to columns in Excel.

The syntax or formula for the Transpose function is:

Transpose Function

  • Array is a range of cells you need to convert or change their orientation.

Check out the number of rows & columns in the source data you want to transpose. In the below example, the Pharma sales table contains the medicine product code in column P (P7 to P12) and sales data in column Q (Q7 to Q12).

Example 3

i.e., Initially, count the number of rows and columns in your original source data (7 rows & 2 columns), which is vertically positioned. Now select the same number of blank cells, but in the other direction (Horizontal), i.e. (2 rows & 7 columns)

  • Before entering the formula, select the empty cells, i.e., from P15 to V16.

Columns to Rows Example 3-2

  • With the empty cells selected, Type the transpose formula in cell P15. i.e. = TRANSPOSE (P6:Q12).

Columns to Rows Example 3-3

  • To apply the formula for the whole range, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter, converting it into an array formula.

Columns to Rows Example 3-4

Now you can check the dataset; columns are converted to rows with datasets.

Columns to Rows Example 3-5

Advantages of the TRANSPOSE function:

  • The main benefit or advantage of using the TRANSPOSE function is that transposed data or the rotated table retains the connection with the source data. Whenever you change the source data, the transposed data also changes accordingly.

Things to Remember About Convert Columns to Rows in Excel

  • Paste special option can also be used for other tasks, i.e., Add, Subtract, Multiply, and Divide between datasets.
  • #VALUE error occurs while selecting the cells, i.e., If the number of columns and rows selected in transposed data is not equal to the rows and columns of the source data.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Columns to Rows in Excel. We have discussed converting columns to rows in Excel using transpose, practical examples, and a downloadable Excel template. Transpose can help everyone to convert multiple Columns to Rows in Excel easily and quickly. You can also go through our other suggested articles –

  1. COLUMNS Formula in Excel
  2. Add Rows in Excel Shortcut
  3. Column Header in Excel
  4. VBA Columns
ADVERTISEMENT
MICROSOFT POWER BI Course Bundle - 8 Courses in 1
34+ Hours of HD Videos
8 Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
4.5
ADVERTISEMENT
MS Excel & VBA for Data Science Course Bundle - 24 Courses in 1 | 10 Mock Tests
87+ Hours of HD Videos
24 Courses
10 Mock Tests & Quizzes
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
4.5
ADVERTISEMENT
All-in-One Financial Analyst Masters Training Program Bundle - 550+ Courses | 300+ Mock Tests | 2000+ Hours | Lifetime |
2000+ Hours of HD Videos
43 Learning Paths
550+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
4.9
ADVERTISEMENT
All-in-One Data Science Bundle - 400+ Courses | 550+ Mock Tests | 2000+ Hours | Lifetime |
2000+ Hour of HD Videos
80 Learning Paths
400+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
4.7
Primary Sidebar
Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Live Classes
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Excel Charts
  • Excel Tips
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Excel VBA Course - All in One Bundle
  • VBA Course
  • Excel Data Analysis Course
  • Excel for Marketing Course
  • Excel for Finance Course
  • Excel for HR Training

ISO 10004:2018 & ISO 9001:2015 Certified

© 2023 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA

Download Convert Columns to Rows Excel Template

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Let’s Get Started

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

EDUCBA
Free Excel Course

Excel functions, formula, charts, formatting creating excel dashboard & others

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

EDUCBA

Download Convert Columns to Rows Excel Template

EDUCBA

डाउनलोड Convert Columns to Rows Excel Template

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Loading . . .
Quiz
Question:

Answer:

Quiz Result
Total QuestionsCorrect AnswersWrong AnswersPercentage

Explore 1000+ varieties of Mock tests View more

🚀 Extended Cyber Monday Price Drop! All in One Universal Bundle (3700+ Courses) @ 🎁 90% OFF - Ends in ENROLL NOW