EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Blog
  • All Courses
  • All in One Bundle
  • Login
Home Excel Excel Resources Excel Tips Excel Move Columns

Excel Move Columns

Steffi Madari
Article bySteffi Madari
Madhuri Thakur
Reviewed byMadhuri Thakur

Why Move Columns in Excel?

Moving columns in Excel means changing the order of columns to make the data look organized and easy to understand. For example, when an accountant wants to compare the company’s income and expenses, they move the income and expense columns together for easier comparison.

Individuals who frequently use Excel often need to rearrange data, including swapping columns in databases. While comparing them side by side is an option, using an Excel shortcut to move columns when working with huge databases is more convenient. Fortunately, there are multiple methods by which we can do this. This article will provide detailed explanations and examples for each of these methods.

Move Columns in Excel

Table of Contents
  • Why Move Columns in Excel?
  • How to Move Columns in Excel?
    • Method #1: Drag-and-Drop
    • Method #2: Insert Cut Cells
    • Method #3: Move Multiple Columns in Excel
    • Method #4: Data Sort

How to Move Columns in Excel

In this article, we have provided a detailed explanation on how to move single and multiple columns in Excel using examples.

Start Your Free Excel Course

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

You can download this Move Columns Excel Template here – Move Columns Excel Template

Method #1: Drag-and-Drop

Consider the below data of Product List, Sold Units, and Product ID data. If you look at the data structure closely, the Product ID should ideally be after the Product List. So we need to move the Product ID column to the left side of the Units Sold column.

Drag-and-Drop Eg1

Solution:

Step 1: Select the entire Product ID column.

Drag-and-Drop Eg 2

Step 2: Move the mouse pointer to the left side border of column C. A four-sided arrow appears, as shown below.

Drag-and-Drop 3

Step 3: Press and hold the shift key on your keyboard. It is the Excel shortcut to move columns. Then, click and hold the left button/side of the mouse.

Note: The four-sided arrow should appear as a single arrow.

Drag-and-Drop 4

Step 4: Now, move the entire column in Excel to the desired location, i.e., Column B.

You will notice a green-colored straight line when you try to drag. Just release the left mouse button and the shift key to drop the column to the desired location.

Drag-and-Drop 5

Result: The Product ID column data shifted from Column C to Column B.

Drag-and-Drop 6

Method #2: Insert Cut Cells

Let’s consider the same data from the previous example.

Step 1: Select the entire “Product ID” column along with the header.

Insert Cut Cells 1

Step 2: Right-click on the column and select “Cut” or press “Ctrl +X”.

Insert Cut Cells 2

Step 3: Now, select column B.

Insert Cut Cells 3

Step 4: Right-click on column B and select “Insert Cut Cells”.

Insert Cut Cells 4

Result: We have successfully moved the Product ID column after the Product column.

Insert Cut Cells 5

Note: You can follow the same procedure to move rows to desired locations.

Method #3: Move Multiple Columns in Excel

Consider the below data of various products sold between January to June. However, the data columns are not in proper order. We need to rearrange the columns so that the columns for January and February come before the March column.

Move Multiple Columns in Excel 1

Solution:
We will move columns using the drag-and-drop method.

Step 1: Select Columns E and F and place the mouse cursor on the left edge of column E.

Move Multiple Columns in Excel 2

Step 2: Press and hold the shift key and the left mouse button. Then, drag the columns to the border between columns B and C.

Note: Release the mouse button and the shift key when the green line appears at the desired location.

Move Multiple Columns in Excel 3

Result: January and February data is moved to the new location, i.e., columns C & D, as shown below.

Move Columns in Excel-Move Multiple Columns in Excel 4

Method #4: Data Sort

In the above example, we have moved adjacent columns. But what if you want to move columns that are not adjacent? For that, you can use the Data Sort method.

Let’s consider the data used in the above example.

Move Columns in Excel-Data Sort 1

Solution:
The first step before applying this method is to add a new row at the top of the table.

Step 1: To add a new row, right-click on row 1, click “Insert,” and select “Entire row”.

Data Sort 2

Step 2: Now, we need to add the numbers in the new row. The number indicates the position of each column in the table.

For example, if you want January data in the third column, then enter 3 in Cell D1.

Step 3: After entering the numbers in the first row as per the order you need, select the entire data.

Move Columns in Excel-Data Sort 3

Step 4: In the “Data” tab, select “Sort” under “Sort & Filter”.

Data Sort 4

Step 5: Select “Options”, as shown below.

Move Columns in Excel-Data Sort 5

Step 6: Select “Sort left to right” from the “Orientation” options and click on “OK”.

Data Sort 6

Step 7: Select the following option from the “Sort” Window and click “OK”.

  • Select “Row 1” in the “Sort by”
  • Select “Cell Values” in the “Sort On” menu.
  • Select “Smallest to Largest” in the “Others”.

Move Columns in Excel-Data Sort 7

The data is sorted from smallest to largest number, as shown below.

Data Sort 8

Step 8: Now, you can delete the first row.           

Result: We have successfully sorted the data in the correct order.

Move Columns in Excel-Data Sort 9

Remember: Excel doesn’t allow moving columns with merged cells. You must first unmerge the cells.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why can’t we move columns using the copy-and-paste method?
Answer: When you use the copy-and-paste method to move columns in Excel, Excel will delete the original column’s data and then add the copied data column. For instance, if you copy data from column A and paste it into column C, the data from column A will replace the existing data in column C. This way, we can lose information if we use the copy-and-paste method.

Q2. How do I move columns in Google Sheets?
Answer: For moving columns in Google Sheets, you cannot use the same methods as we did for moving single and multiple columns in Excel. The three methods to move columns in sheets are:

  • Drag-and-Drop
  • Move Left/Move Right
  • Cut, Insert, Paste, Delete

Note that the drag-and-drop for Excel and google sheets have different steps.

Q3. When you move columns in Excel, does the formatting stay the same?
Answer: Yes, whenever you move single or multiple columns in Excel, there are no changes in the formatting of the particular columns.

Recommended Articles

This article is a step-by-step guide on how to move columns in Excel. Here we discuss how to move columns around in Excel using Drag-and-Drop, Insert Cut Cells, and Data Sort methods. You may also refer to the below articles in Excel for a better understanding:–

  1. Excel Columns to Rows
  2. COLUMNS Function in Excel
  3. VBA Columns
  4. Switching Columns in Excel
All in One Excel VBA Bundle
500+ Hours of HD Videos
15 Learning Paths
120+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
Financial Analyst Masters Training Program
2000+ Hours of HD Videos
43 Learning Paths
550+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
All in One Data Science Bundle
2000+ Hour of HD Videos
80 Learning Paths
400+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
All in One Software Development Bundle
5000+ Hours of HD Videos
149 Learning Paths
1050+ Courses
Verifiable Certificate of Completion
Lifetime Access
Primary Sidebar
All in One Excel VBA Bundle500+ Hours of HD Videos | 15 Learning Paths | 120+ Courses | Verifiable Certificate of Completion | Lifetime Access
Financial Analyst Masters Training Program2000+ Hours of HD Videos | 43 Learning Paths | 550+ Courses | Verifiable Certificate of Completion | Lifetime Access
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 Move Columns Excel Template

Let’s Get Started

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

EDUCBA

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

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 Move Columns Excel Template

EDUCBA

डाउनलोड Move Columns 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