How to Merge Cells in Excel
In this article you will learn how to merge cells in Excel.
What does “Merge Cells” in Excel mean?
Merging cells in Excel is the process of combining two or more adjacent cells into a single, larger cell. This feature is primarily used for formatting purposes and to improve the appearance of a spreadsheet. By merging cells, you can create a cleaner and more professional-looking document.
How do you merge cells in Excel?
To merge cells in Excel, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the cells you want to merge. You can select multiple cells by clicking and dragging your mouse across the cells, or by clicking the first cell and then holding down the Shift key while clicking the last cell in the range.
Step 2: Right-click on the selected cells and choose "Format Cells" from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the "Alignment" tab.
Step 4: Check the box next to "Merge cells" under the "Horizontal" section.
Step 5: Click "OK" to save your changes.
Alternatively, you can use the "Merge & Center" button on the Home tab of the Excel ribbon to quickly merge cells and center the contents. Simply select the cells you want to merge and click the "Merge & Center" button.
Note: This method will also apply the "Center" alignment to the merged cells unless otherwise selected from the drop down menu.
How to Unmerge Merged cells?
To unmerge cells in Excel, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the merged cells that you want to unmerge. To do this, click on the top left cell of the merged group, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the mouse to include all the merged cells.
Step 2: On the Home tab in the Ribbon, click on the "Merge & Center" button in the Alignment group.
Step 3: From the drop-down list, select "Unmerge Cells".
Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected merged cells and choose "Format Cells" from the context menu. In the "Format Cells" dialog box, go to the "Alignment tab" and uncheck the Merge cells checkbox.
Note: Once you have unmerged the cells, the data in the original merged cell will be split into separate cells. Note that any data that was in the merged cell will be moved to the top-left cell of the original merged range, and the other cells in the range will be cleared.
What is the shortcut to merge or unmerge cells in Excel?
The shortcut to merge or unmerge cells in Excel depends on the version of Excel you are using. The shortcuts for the most recent versions:
Excel for Windows: To merge cells, select the cells you want to merge and press Alt+H, then M, then press Enter. To unmerge cells, select the merged cell and press Alt+H, then M, then U, then press Enter.
What are some uses of Merging cells?
Some of the common uses of merging cells in Excel are listed below:
- Creating headings: Merging cells is an excellent way to create headings for your Excel spreadsheet. By merging several cells into one, you can make your header text stand out and easier to read.
- Generating labels: You can merge cells to create labels that span across multiple columns. This is useful when you want to label a group of related data in your spreadsheet.
- Making tables: You can merge cells to create tables that span multiple rows and columns. This is helpful when you want to present data in a more organized and structured way.
- Combining data: In some cases, you may want to merge cells to combine data from multiple cells into a single cell. For example, if you have a table of dates that span multiple cells, you can merge the cells to create a single cell that contains the entire date range.
Note: It's important to note that while merging cells can be useful for formatting purposes, it can also make it more difficult to organize, sort and filter data and insert formulas in your spreadsheet. So, it's best to use merging cells sparingly and only when necessary.
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