Using keyboard shortcuts is a major step towards becoming an Excel power user. Below is the list of most keyboard shortcuts. Take a moment to learn them once, it will give you extra productivity that will be really worth it in the long run.
You can download below a printable, 1-pager with all the shortcuts:
File management
CTRL+N : Create new workbook
CTRL+O : Open new workbook
CTRL+S : Save
F12 : Save as
CTRL+W : Close workbook
ALT+F4 : Close application
CTRL+NextPage / PreviousPage : Move to the next / previous sheet
SHIFT+Alt+F1 : Add new sheet
Alt,H,O,R : Rename active sheet
Alt,H,D,S : Delete active sheet
Copy and paste
CTRL+C : Copy
CTRL+V : Paste
CTRL+R : Paste to the right
CTRL+D : Paste down
CTRL+X : Cut
Alt,H,V,F : Paste as formula
Alt,H,V,V : Paste as value
CTRL+- : Delete selection
CTRL++ : Insert cells/rows/columns
Cancel and repeat
CTRL+Z : Cancel
CTRL+Y : Cancel cancellation
F4 : Repeat last action
Formatting shortcuts
CTRL+B : Bold
CTRL+U : Underline
CTRL+I : Italic
Alt,H,H,N : Remove fill color
Alt,H,B,N : Remove borders
Alt,H,B,A : Add borders (all)
Alt,H,B,S : Add borders (external)
Alt,H,B,T : Add borders (thick)
CTRL+SHIFT+% : Format as percentage
CTRL+SHIFT+F : Open the format dialog box
Alt,H,O,I : Autofit columns
Alt,H,O,A : Autofit rows
Selection shortcuts
CTRL+A : Select all
CTRL+Left/Right Arrows : Move one block of cells to the left/right
CTRL+Up/Down Arrows : Move one block of cells up or down
SHIFT+Left/Right Arrows : Extend selection by one cell to the left/right
SHIFT+Up/Down Arrows : Extend selection by one cell up/down
CTRL+SHIFT+Left/Right Arrows : Extend selection by one block of cells to the left/right
CTRL+SHIFT+Up/Down Arrows : Extend selection by one block of cells up/down
ALT+SHIFT+Up/Down Arrows : Move items up or down in a bulleted or numbered list
F8 : Activate Selection Mode
SHIFT+Space : Select current row
CTRL+Space : Select current column
CTRL+SHIFT+9 : Hide active row
Text shortcuts
CTRL+F : Find
CTRL+H : Replace
Backspace : Delete one character to the left
CTRL+Backspace : Delete one word to the left
SHIFT+F10 : Contextual menu (=right click)
F7 : Run a Spelling and Grammar Check
Data shortcuts
Alt,H,M,C : Merge cells
Alt,H,M,U : Unmerge cells
CTRL+SHIFT+L : Add/remove filter
Alt+Down arrow : Display values in the filter or in the validation list
Space bar : Check or uncheck a box in a filter's list
Alt,N,T : Create a table with the active range
Alt,N,V : Create a Pivot Table with the active range
Date and time shortcuts
CTRL+; : Insert current date
CTRL+SHIFT+; : Insert current time
Formula shortcuts
F2 : Edit active cell
F3 : View and insert named ranges
Tab : Validates the formula suggested by Excel
Alt+Enter : Add a line break in your formula
Alt+= : Sum all the cells above
CTRL+SHIFT+U : Extend the formula bar
CTRL+E : Flash Fill the selected range
Windows shortcuts
Windows+D : Go to desktop
Windows+E : Open Computer
Windows+V : Open Clipboard history
Windows+L : Lock computer
Windows+P : Show display screen options
Windows+H : Launch speech-to-text
Windows+SHIFT+S : Launch screen snipping tool
Windows+Arrow : Move a window to corresponding corner of the screen
Windows+. : Insert emoji and animated Gifs
Alt+Left Arrow : Move to previous folder
Alt+Up Arrow : Move to parent folder
CTRL+T : Open new tab
CTRL+W : Close current tab
CLTR+SHIFT+T : Re-open the last closed tab
Alt+F4 : Close current program
CTRL+P : Print
CTRL+F1 : Show/Hide ribbon
F11 : Full screen mode ON/OFF
Final tip#1: check also our lists of the best keyboard shortcuts for PowerPoint or Word.
Final tip#2: remember these shortcuts with the Power-user add-in for Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Among other features, it adds a list of keyboard shortcuts directly into Excel but also tons of time-saving tools, templates, charts, diagrams, etc!