How to Delete a Sheet in Excel (7 Quick Ways)

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Deleting a sheet is necessary when you don’t need a sheet, or you might need to remove useless sheets. This tutorial will show you how to delete a sheet in Excel. Using these ways will help you to delete a sheet easily.

We are showing 5 ways to delete a sheet. You can choose any among them suited to your needs. But in our opinion, you must know every way to enrich your knowledge.

how to delete a sheet in excel


How to Delete a Sheet in Excel: 7 Quick Ways

To explain this article, we have taken the following dataset. It contains a Sales Overview for 2 months. The name of this Excel sheet is Dataset. We will use this dataset to explain how to delete a sheet in Excel.

Dataset for Deleting a Sheet in Excel

Note: We did all of our processes by minimizing our window so it might look different. But you will find every option there.

1. Use the Delete Command to Delete a Sheet in Excel

The first method is basic delete using the Delete command from the Home tab. Here, we have copied data from the Dataset sheet to another sheet and named it as Using Delete Command. Now, we will delete this sheet using the Delete command from the Cells group in Excel.

Creating Another Sheet Named Using Delete Command

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • Firstly, select the sheet that you want to delete.
  • Secondly, go to the Home tab.
  • Thirdly, select the drop-down option for Delete.
  • Next, select Delete Sheet.

Using Delete Command to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Afterward, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Prompt Asking If You Want to Continue

  • Finally, you will see that you have deleted the selected sheet. Here, you can see that we have deleted the sheet, and only Dataset remains.

Final Output of Using Delete Command to Delete a Sheet in Excel


2. Apply Excel Context Menu to Delete a Sheet

Now, this method is the most used. This seems pretty easy to almost all users. Here, we have also copied data from the Dataset sheet to another sheet and named it as Applying Context Menu. Now, we will use this sheet to show you how to delete a Sheet in Excel using the Context Menu.

An Excel Sheet Named Applying Context Menu

Let me show you the steps.

Steps:

  • In the beginning, select the sheet you want to delete.
  • Then, right-click on the sheet.
  • After that, the Context Menu will appear.
  • Next, select Delete.

Applying Context Menu to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Afterward, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

A Prompt Saying Selected Sheet Will Be Deleted Permanently

  • In the end, you can see that we have deleted the selected sheet, and only the Dataset remains.

Final Output of Using Context Menu to Delete an Excel Sheet


3. Employ the Keyboard Shortcut to Delete an Excel Sheet

Using the regular keyboard shortcut is also a way to delete a sheet. Here, we will show you how to use the keyboard shortcut to delete a sheet in Excel. This method will also come in handy in different scenarios. Let’s explore the steps.

Steps:

  • To begin with, select the sheet you want to delete.
  • Then, press Alt + H + D + S on your keyboard.

Employing Keyboard Shortcut to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Next, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Prompt While Deleting Sheet in Excel

  • Lastly, you can see that we have deleted the sheet named Employing Keyboard Shortcut.

Final Output of Employing Keyboard Shortcut to Delete a Sheet in Excel


4. Delete a Sheet Using Both Mouse and Keyboard

In this method, we will show you how you can use both the mouse and keyboard to delete a sheet in Excel. Now, this is my personal favorite. You can use this to delete any sheet quickly. Here, we will delete a sheet named Mouse and Keyboard.

An Excel Sheet Named Mouse and Keyboard

Let’s see the steps of this method.

Steps:

  • Firstly, select the sheet you want to delete.
  • Secondly, right-click on the sheet.
  • Thirdly, the Context Menu will open.
  • Then, press D on your keyboard.

Using Both Mouse and Keyboard to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Next, a Prompt will appear.
  • Lastly, select Delete.

Prompt Asking If You Want to Delete a Sheet Permanently in Excel

  • Finally, you can see that we have deleted the sheet, and only the Dataset remains.

Final Output of Using Both Mouse and Keyboard to Delete a Sheet in Excel


5. Utilize Legacy Keyboard Shortcut to Delete an Excel Sheet

There were shortcuts in the pre-Excel (2007) era. There is a sequence of commands which are also supported in newer versions of Excel. Now, this method is not often used. But, we think you should also learn this. It will enhance your knowledge of Excel. Let me show you the steps.

Steps:

  • First, select the sheet you want to delete. Here, we selected a sheet named Legacy Keyboard Shortcut.
  • Then, press Alt + E + L on your keyboard.

Utilizing Legacy Keyboard Shortcut to Delete an Excel Sheet

  • Afterward, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Prompt While Using Legacy Keyboard Shortcut

  • Finally, the sheet named Legacy Keyboard Shortcut will be deleted.

Final Output of Utilizing Legacy Keyboard Shortcut to Delete a Sheet in Excel


6. Employ Navigation Pane to Delete a Sheet in Excel

You can also use the Navigation pane to delete a sheet in Excel. The Navigation pane helps to understand the layout of the workbook. You can also delete a sheet from here. Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • In the beginning, select the sheet you want to delete.
  • Then, go to the View tab.
  • Next, select Navigation.

Employing Navigation Pane to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Afterward, the Navigation pane will appear on the Right side of the screen.

Opening Navigation Pane in Excel

  • Then, right-click on the sheet that you want to delete.
  • After that, select Delete.

Deleting Sheet from Navigation Pane

  • Next, a Prompt will appear.
  • After that, select Delete.

Prompt in Navigation Pane

  • In the end, you can see that we have deleted the sheet, and only the Dataset remains.

Final Output of Employing Navigation Pane to Delete a Sheet in Excel


7. Delete a Sheet Using Macros in Excel

Here, we will use macros to delete a sheet in Excel. You can delete a sheet with a simple VBA code. We will delete the sheet named Using Macros.

Sheet Named Using Macros

Let me show you the steps.

Steps:

  • Firstly, go to the Developer tab.
  • Secondly, select Visual Basic.

Opening Visual Basic Editor Window

  • Thirdly, the Visual Basic Editor window will open.
  • Next, select the Insert tab.
  • Then, select Module.

Opening Module for Writing VBA Code

  • Consequently, a Module will open.
  • Then, write the following code in that Module.

VBA Code to Delete a Sheet in Excel

🔎 How Does the Code Work?

  • Here, I created a Sub Procedure named Deleting_Sheet.
  • Then, I used the Application.DisplayAlerts property to avoid Prompt.
  • Next, I used the Worksheet.Delete method to delete a sheet.
  • Finally, I ended the Sub Procedure.
  • After that, Save the code and go back to the worksheet.

Saving VBA Code

  • Next, go to the Developer tab.
  • Then, select Marcos.

Running Macros to Delete a Sheet in Excel

  • Consequently, the Macro dialog box will appear.
  • Select Deleting_Sheet as the Macro name.
  • Then, select Run.

Macro Dialog Box in Excel

  • Lastly, you can see that we have deleted the sheet.

Final Output of Using Macros to Delete a Sheet in Excel


How to Delete Multiple Sheets at Once

Though our article is all about deleting a sheet, it will be useful if you learn how to delete multiple sheets at once. This will be much easier if you learn any of those previous methods. Here, we have taken the following dataset for this section. It contains 4 Excel sheets. We will show 2 different methods of deleting multiple sheets. Let’s explore them.

Dataset for Deleting Multiple Excel Sheets at Once


1. Use the Shift Key to Delete Multiple Adjacent Sheets at Once

In this method, we will show you how you can delete multiple adjacent sheets in Excel. We will use the Shift key for selecting multiple sheets. Here, we will delete the marked 3 sheets in the following image.

Deleting Multiple Adjacent Sheets

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • To begin with, select the first sheet that you want to delete.

Selecting First Sheet to Delete

  • Then, press and hold the Shift key while selecting the last sheet you want to delete.

Selecting Last Sheet to Delete in Excel

  • After that, all the 3 sheets will be selected.
  • Then, right-click on any of the selected sheets.
  • Consequently, the Context Menu will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Using Context Menu to Delete Multiple Sheets

  • Afterward, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Prompt While Deleting Multiple Sheets

  • Lastly, the sheets will be deleted.

Final Output of Using Shift Key to Delete Multiple Adjacent Sheets at Once


2. Apply Ctrl Key to Delete Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets at Once

Now, we will see how you can delete multiple non-adjacent sheets at once in Excel. In this method, we will use the Ctrl key for selecting multiple sheets. Here, we will delete the marked 2 sheets in the following image.

Deleting Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • Firstly, select a sheet you want to delete.

Selecting First Sheet to Delete Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets

  • Secondly, press and hold the Ctrl key while selecting other sheets you want to delete.

Selecting Other Sheets to Delete Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets

  • Thirdly, all the sheets will be selected.
  • Next, right-click on any of the selected sheets.
  • Then, select Delete.

Applying Context Menu to Delete Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets

  • Afterward, a Prompt will appear.
  • Select Delete.

Prompt While Deleting Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets

  • Finally, you can see that we have deleted the non-adjacent sheets.

Final Output of Applying Ctrl Key to Delete Multiple Non-Adjacent Sheets at Once


Things to Remember

  • These methods permanently delete those sheets. If you are not sure whether you need them after or not, make a copy of those sheets.
  • If there is only one sheet in the workbook, you can’t delete this. However, you need at least more than one sheet to delete.
  • Whenever using Macros, you must save your Excel file as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook.

Practice Section

Here, we have provided a practice sheet for you to practice how to delete a sheet in Excel.

Practice Section


Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here.


Conclusion

In the end, we hope these methods on how to delete a sheet in Excel have enhanced your knowledge of Excel. We are giving you a practice workbook with multiple sheets, try to delete those sheets using those methods. Give these a try. Also, if you have any suggestions or any other feedback let me know in the comment below.


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A.N.M. Mohaimen Shanto
A.N.M. Mohaimen Shanto

Hello! I am Shanto. An Excel & VBA Content Developer. My goal is to provide our readers with great tutorials on various Excel-related problems. I hope our easy but effective tutorials will enrich your knowledge. I have completed my BSc in Computer Science & Engineering from Daffodil International University. Working with data was always my passion. Love to work with data, analyze those, and find patterns. Also, love to research. Always look for challenges to keep me growing.

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