Best Keyboard shortcuts for Excel

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

Create custom keyboard shortcuts for Excel

If there are some actions in Excel for which you don't have any shorcut, and you want to define a custom keyboard shortcut, have a look at the Power-user add-in.

Power-user includes many advanced features for PowerPoint, Excel and Word, including a "Command Center" where you can set up your own shortcut keys.

Want to learn more shortcuts? Check also our lists of the best keyboard shortcuts for PowerPoint or Word.