How to Move Columns in Excel

In today’s post, we would be taking you through moving columns in excel. What do we mean by moving columns? We mean changing the position of columns without overwriting existing data in the new position or affecting dependencies to that column. This means that if that column has some dependent cells linking to it, moving its position should not affect the relationship between that column and its dependent cells.

We would introduce you to three methods of achieving your goal of moving columns. These methods are:

  1. Shift Key with Drag and Drop
  2. Using Insert Cut Cells
  3. Data Sort Technique

At the end of this post you should be able to replicate the examples treated here and utilize it in your daily use of Microsoft excel. Let’s begin with the Shift key with drag and drop method.

Using the Shift Key to Move Columns

To move a column using the shift key, please follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Select the column you intend to move

Move Columns

Step 2: Press and hold the shift key while simultaneously clicking and holding the left or right border of the column you want to move. Remember that your hand should still be on the shift key when dragging.

You can drag and drop your column either to the left or to the right of the original position. As you attempt to drop it in other columns, you see the border darken to indicate where the new column would appear. For example, we want to move Estimated Guest Market (currently on Column F) one column to the left, so we drag and drop it in column E. As you can see below, the border between columns D and E is boldened to indicate that the new column would appear in column E.

Move Columns step 2

Step 3: Release the left click and then release your hand from the shift key to have the result below

Move Columns step 3

Please note that the above guide also works with multiple columns. All you need to do is to select those columns together and follow the steps above. For example If I want to move both Estimated Guest Market size and Revenue to occupy columns B and C respectively, I would highlight their current columns and then follow the steps above.

Move Columns Step 4
Highlight the two columns you intend to move
Move Columns Step 5
Follow the steps above and drop them on column B:C, then release the click and the shift key

Using Insert Cut Cells

Another method of moving columns is the Insert cut cells method. If executed correctly, it shouldn’t overwrite existing data nor should it affect dependent cells. How do we go about it? Easy, just follow these steps:

Step 1: Select the column(s) you want to move. In our example, this would be the estimated guest market size.

Cut Cells Step 1 1

Step 2: Right click and select Cut or use the CTRL + X

Cut Cells Step 1

Step 3: Navigate to the new position, note that the column you cut in step 2 above would be inserted before the column in the new position. For example, I have selected column B which currently has Booking Market information. After executing the remaining steps, Booking Market should shift to the right (column C)

Cut Cells Step 3 1

Step 4: Right click and click Insert cut cells.

Cut Cells Step 3

Result: As stated above, Booking market has been shifted to column C and our Estimated Guest Market is now occupying column B.

Cut Cells Step 4 1

Data Sort Technique

This is the final method we are reviewing in this post. With the data sort technique, you can specify how your posts should appear. We would use our previous example on the booking market size to change the order of the headers to Booking Market, Trade, Cruise Line, Estimated Guest Market size, Cruise Guests, Revenue and year. Let’s go through the steps below:

Step 1: Insert a new row and in the row, rank the headings below that row based on their order of appearance above. For example, the column for booking market should have 1 on the first row, Cruise lines should have 2, Estimated Guest Size with 3 and so on.

data sort technique

Step 2: Navigate to the data tab > Sort & Filter Group > click on Sort

Sort Technique Part 2

Step 3: In the pop out, click on options

Sort Technique Part 3 1

Step 4: Select sort left to right and click on OK

Sort Technique Part 4 1

Step 5: Following the above step would take you back to the initial pop out and then you can select the sort by row as Row 1 and click on OK.

Sort Technique Part 5 3

Result: Excel sorts the columns according to the numbers specified.

Sort Technique Part 6

Now delete the first row and you are good to go.

Really straightforward right? I hope you have been able to pick up a thing or two from this post. For all you need to know about moving rows, check out our how to move rows in excel post.

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