How to Delete Columns in Excel

Getting rid of unnecessary or unused columns in Excel is very easy. In this tutorial, we will learn how to delete a single column, multiple columns, and infinite/extra columns in Excel.

We will experience three different ways of deleting columns: the right-click, the keyboard shortcut, and the Excel ribbon. Let’s dig into it!

Delete a Single Column

Let’s first learn how to delete a single column.

For deleting a single column, select the column you want to delete by clicking on the name of the column.

But if you can help it, try swapping the columns in that Excel sheet before proceeding to delete it.

Now let’s see three ways of deleting the selected column. These three methods can also be used for deleting multiple columns, and infinite columns.

1)      Delete Column with Right-click

While the column to delete is selected, right-click anywhere on the selected column(s), and click on Delete.

2)      Delete Column with Keyboard Shortcut

While the column to delete is selected, press “Ctrl” and “–“ (minus sign/hyphen) at the same time on your keyboard. The column(s) you selected will automatically be removed.

3)      Delete Column with Excel Ribbon

While the column to delete is selected, click on Delete in the Cells part of the Excel ribbon.

You can prefer any of these three methods to delete a column.

Related Tutorial: How to Delete a Comment in Excel

Delete Multiple Columns

Now, let’s learn how to delete multiple columns in Excel.

If the columns you want to delete are not consecutive, click on the names of the columns you want to delete while pressing Ctrl on your keyboard.

If the columns you want to delete are consecutive, click on the name of the first (leftmost) column you want to remove. Then, while pressing Shift on your keyboard, click on the name of the last (rightmost) column you want to remove.

Pressing Shift will select all columns between the first and last columns you’ve selected.

After selecting the columns to be removed, you can use one of the three methods we mentioned above to delete multiple columns:

• Right-click and click on Delete
• Press Ctrl and – at the same time
• Click on Delete in the Excel ribbon

Delete Infinite/Extra Columns

There can be extra columns in Excel that seem to go forever. If you believe that they’re unnecessary, there’s a very simple shortcut that deletes the contents of infinite/extra columns.

Select (click on the name of) the leftmost column after your data (the last column). Then, click on Ctrl, Shift, and the right arrow (à) at the same time (Ctrl + Shift + à).

This will select all of the extra columns to the right.

Then, right-click anywhere on the selection, and click on Delete.

This operation will, however, not make these columns invisible. It will only delete the contents of the infinite/extra cells. The columns that you see after the deletion are newly generated, infinitely empty columns.

If your goal is also to make the extra columns invisible, follow the same steps explained in this section, but click on Hide instead of Delete.

This will hide all extra columns so that you’re visually left with the columns that contain your data:

In this tutorial, we learned how to delete a single column, multiple columns, and infinite columns. We also learned how to hide infinite columns to obtain a simpler look. Nice work!

And while you’re at it, learn how to delete rows containing blank cells in Excel.