How to Add/Delete Rows and Columns in Google Sheets [2023 Tutorial]

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the default 26,000 cells in a Google Sheets worksheet? Or maybe you need more than that to handle large amounts of data or track multiple metrics? Either way, it’s essential to know how to adjust the number of cells in your Google sheet, whether by adding rows or deleting columns.

Using the Insert Tab for Single Row or Column

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to adding a single row or column using the Insert tab:

1. Open your Google Sheets workbook.
2. Select the row or column where you want to add another one.
3. Click on the Insert tab > Choose Row above or Row below (for columns, choose Column to the left or Column to the right).
4. Voilà! You should now have an empty row or column at your desired location.

Using the Insert Tab for Multiple Rows or Columns

Want to add more than one row or column at a time? Follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheets workbook.
2. Select N vertical (or horizontal) cells where you want to add the set of rows or columns. For example, if you want to add 3 rows, select 3 vertical cells.
3. Click on the Insert tab > Choose N rows above or N rows below (for columns, choose N columns to the left or N columns to the right).
4. Google Sheets will automatically generate the number of rows or columns based on your selection!

Right-Click to Add/Delete Single Row or Column

Prefer using the right-click menu? Here’s how to add or delete a single row or column:

1. Open your Google Sheets workbook.
2. Select the row or column where you want to add another one.
3. Right-click on the selection > Choose your desired action from Insert 1 above, Insert 1 below, or Delete row (for columns, the options are Insert 1 to the left, Insert 1 to the right, or Delete column).

Right-Click to Add/Delete Multiple Rows or Columns

Adding or deleting multiple rows or columns with a right-click is just as easy:

1. Open your Google Sheets workbook.
2. Select N vertical (or horizontal) cells where you want to add or delete the set of rows or columns. For example, if you want to add 3 rows, select 3 vertical cells.
3. Right-click on the selection > Choose your desired action from Insert N rows (to insert above) and Delete rows (for columns, the options are Insert N columns (to insert to the left) and Delete columns).

How to Add a Row in Google Sheets

Follow these 4 simple steps to add a row to a spreadsheet in Google Sheets:

1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select the row(s) where you want to add an additional row.
3. Click on the Insert tab > Choose Row above or Row below.
4. Google Sheets will automatically add a new row.

Adding Rows at the Bottom of the Sheet

Want to add rows at the bottom of the sheet? Here’s how:

1. Open your Google Sheets workbook.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the sheet > Locate the Add N more rows at the bottom area.
3. Enter the desired number in the text field > Press Add.

Using PC Keyboard Shortcuts to Add/Delete Rows or Columns

Using Google Chrome? Select the desired rows or columns, then use the following shortcuts:

• Alt + i, then r to add a row above
• Alt + i, then w to add a row below
• Alt + i, then c to add a column to the left
• Alt + i, then o to add a column to the right
• Alt + e, then d to delete a row
• Alt + e, then e to delete a column
• Press F4 to repeat the previous action (useful for adding/deleting multiple rows and columns)

Using other browsers? Select the desired rows or columns, then use the following shortcuts:

• Alt + Shift + i, then r to add a row above
• Alt + Shift + i, then w to add a row below
• Alt + Shift + i, then c to add a column to the left
• Alt + Shift + i, then o to add a column to the right
• Alt + Shift + e, then d to delete a row
• Alt + Shift + e, then e to delete a column
• Press F4 to repeat the previous action (useful for adding/deleting multiple rows and columns)

Using Mac Keyboard Shortcuts to Add/Delete Rows or Columns

In any browser, select the desired rows or columns, then use the following shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Option + i, then r to add a row above
• Ctrl + Option + i, then b to add a row below
• Ctrl + Option + i, then c to add a column to the left
• Ctrl + Option + i, then o to add a column to the right
• Ctrl + Option + e, then d to delete a row
• Ctrl + Option + e, then e to delete a column

You might also find our articles on how to add rows in Google Sheets and the shortcut to add rows in Google Sheets helpful. By the way, we also recommend reading our guide on how to send an email from Google Sheets based on the value of a cell.

Try our contract renewal reminder software to automate your contract renewal notifications.

Source: Crawlan.com