How to Move Cells in Excel

While working on a worksheet, cells themselves may need to be inserted, moved, or deleted. When cells are changed and moved, the existing cells shift, along with their content, to adjust for the changes to adjacent cells.

Insert Cells

First, you'll want to select the cells next to where you want the new ones.

1. Select the cell or cell range where you want to insert the new cells.
2. Click the Insert button list arrow.
3. Select Insert Cells.
   

   The Insert dialog box appears.

4. Select how you want to move the adjacent cells:
   • Shift cells right: Shift existing cells to the right.
   • Shift cells down: Shift existing cells down.
   • Entire row: Insert an entire row.
   • Entire column: Insert an entire column.
5. Click OK.
   

   Right-click the selected cell(s) and select Insert from the contextual menu.

Blank cells are inserted and the existing ones move according to your selection.

Insert Rows or Columns

1. Select the column or row heading next to where you want to insert new cells.
2. Click the Insert button.
   

   You can also right-click a row or column heading and select Insert from the contextual menu.

The row or column is inserted. Existing rows are shifted downward, while existing columns are shifted to the right.