Get Access to World’s largest Template Library & Tools

How to Merge in Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel provides a valuable feature to merge multiple cells, simplifying the layout of your data for clearer, more effective communication. Study the practical steps to merge cells in Excel, making it a straightforward process to enhance spreadsheet appearance and functionality.

How to Merge in Microsoft Excel

 

In Microsoft Excel, merging cells is a common practice to improve the layout and readability of your spreadsheets. Follow these steps to combine cells and streamline the appearance of your data:

  • Step 1. Select the Cells to Merge

    step 1 select the cells to merge in microsoft excel

    Begin by selecting the cells you want to merge in your sheet. You can do this by clicking and dragging across the cells, or by clicking the first cell and holding the shift key while clicking the last cell in the range you wish to merge.

  • Step 2. Open the ‘Merge & Center’ Tool

    Navigate to the “Home” tab on the Excel ribbon. In the “Alignment” group, you’ll find the “Merge & Center” button. Click on this button to see various merging options.

  • Step 3. Choose Your Merge Option

    step 3 choose your merge option

    From the drop-down menu under “Merge & Center,” choose the appropriate merging option for your needs. You can select “Merge & Center” to combine the cells and center the content, “Merge Across” to combine cells in each row of the selection, or “Merge Cells” to simply merge without centering.

  • Step 4. Apply the Merge

    step 4 apply the merge

    Click your chosen option to apply the merge. The selected cells will be combined into one larger cell, which can improve the organization and presentation of data in your spreadsheet.

  • Step 5. Adjust the Formatting

    After merging, you might need to adjust the formatting, such as the alignment or font size, to ensure the merged cell looks as intended. Review the merge to ensure it meets your layout requirements and make any necessary adjustments.

You may also find valuable insights in the following articles offering tips for Microsoft Excel:

note iconNote

Unlock Your Productivity with Over 100,000 Microsoft Excel Templates! Exclusively Available at Template.net – Download Now and Transform Your Data Handling Experience!

FAQs

What happens to the data in cells when they are merged?

When cells are merged in Excel, only the upper-left cell’s data is retained; all other data in the merged cells is deleted.

Can I merge cells across different rows and columns at the same time?

Yes, you can merge cells across both rows and columns simultaneously, creating a single larger cell.

Is it possible to unmerge cells after merging them?

Yes, you can unmerge cells by selecting the merged cell and clicking “Merge & Center” again or by choosing “Unmerge Cells” from the dropdown menu.

Does merging cells affect the functionality of my spreadsheet?

Merging cells can affect functionality by limiting the ability to sort data and potentially complicating formula references.

Can I still apply formulas to merged cells?

You can apply formulas to merged cells but only the top-left cell of the merged area can contain the formula or data.

More in Excel

How to Change the Microsoft Excel ThemeHow to Learn Microsoft Excel for Free
How to Create Address Labels in Microsoft ExcelHow to Sort a Table in Microsoft Excel
How to Find the Mean, Median, and Mode in Microsoft ExcelHow to Sum Random Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Add a Whole Column in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Copy of a Microsoft Excel Workbook
How to Subtract a Column in Microsoft ExcelHow to Remove Parentheses in Microsoft Excel
How to Fix Rows in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Timesheet in Microsoft Excel
How to Create a Flow Chart in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make Square Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Apply a Filter in Microsoft ExcelHow to Insert a Note in Microsoft Excel
How to Make a Graph in Microsoft Excel With DataHow to Create a Sparkline in Microsoft Excel
How to Set Margins in Microsoft ExcelHow to Copy Filtered Data in Microsoft Excel
How to Set Default Font in Microsoft ExcelHow to Edit Footer in Microsoft Excel
How to Unhide All Sheets in Microsoft ExcelHow to Get Rid of Spaces in Microsoft Excel
How to Calculate Columns in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a Formula to a Value in Microsoft Excel
How to Flip Rows and Columns in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Box in Microsoft Excel
How to Use NPV in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a List of Numbers in Microsoft Excel
How to Make a Sensitivity Table in Microsoft ExcelHow to Keep 0 in Front of a Number in Microsoft Excel
How to Do an Absolute Reference in Microsoft ExcelHow to Put a Drop Down in Microsoft Excel
How to Change a Negative Number to Positive in ExcelHow to Combine Tables in Microsoft Excel
How to Highlight Blank Cells in Microsoft ExcelHow to Save a Macro in Microsoft Excel
How to Sort by Month in Microsoft ExcelHow to Do a Percentage Increase in Microsoft Excel
How to Apply Filter in Microsoft ExcelHow to Delete Multiple Sheets in Microsoft Excel
How to Create a Slicer in Microsoft ExcelHow to Turn Microsoft Excel Data Into a Graph
How to Move a Page Break in Microsoft ExcelHow to Clear Table Format in Microsoft Excel
How to Extract the Year From a Date in Microsoft ExcelHow to Do a Bar Graph in Microsoft Excel
How to Change Theme in Microsoft ExcelHow to Calculate Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Label X and Y Axis on Microsoft ExcelHow to Change Print Area in Microsoft Excel
How to Add 2 Cells in Microsoft ExcelHow to Write Vertically in Microsoft Excel
How to Display All Formulas in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change the Chart Style in Microsoft Excel
How to Enter Bullet Points in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a Microsoft Excel File from Read Only
How to Show the Ribbon in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Clustered Column Chart in Excel
How to See Duplicates in Microsoft ExcelHow to Trim in Microsoft Excel
How to Do a Scatter Plot in Microsoft ExcelHow to Switch Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Calculate Workdays in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Macro in Microsoft Excel
How to Create a Sensitivity Table in Microsoft ExcelHow to Calculate a Percentage in Microsoft Excel
How to Freeze 2 Rows in Microsoft ExcelHow to Import a File Into Microsoft Excel
How to Email a Microsoft Excel SheetHow to Create Labels in Word From Microsoft Excel
How to Auto-Adjust Row Height in Microsoft ExcelHow to Combine Tabs in Microsoft Excel
How to Wrap Text in a Microsoft Excel CellHow to Autofill the Date in Microsoft Excel
How to Fix a Circular Reference in Microsoft ExcelHow to Add a Label to an Axis in Microsoft Excel
How to Select a Row in Microsoft ExcelHow to Lock Cells in Microsoft Excel for Scrolling
How to Get Microsoft Excel to Round UpHow to Start a New Paragraph in Microsoft Excel
How to Insert Check Boxes in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change Horizontal Axis Values in Microsoft Excel
How to Enable the Developer Tab in Microsoft ExcelHow to Copy a Row in Microsoft Excel
How to Delete Extra Pages in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a CSV File to Microsoft Excel
How to Share and Edit Microsoft Excel FilesHow to Find a P-Value in Microsoft Excel
How to Compare Two Microsoft Excel Sheets for DuplicatesHow to Delete a Chart in Microsoft Excel
How to Put Dates in Order on Microsoft ExcelHow to Freeze Both Rows and Columns in Microsoft Excel
How to Recover a Corrupted Microsoft Excel FileHow to Save a Microsoft Excel File as a CSV
How to Unprotect a Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetHow to Add Rows in Microsoft Excel Using a Shortcut
How to Do a Count in Microsoft ExcelHow to Find the Sum of a Column in Microsoft Excel
bottom banner