How to Delete Every Other Column in Excel: 5 Easy Ways

Method 1 – Use Custom Sort Feature to Delete Every Other Column

Steps:

• Add row 3 over the header row.
• Input the following formula in cell B3.

• The COLUMN function returns the numeric value of the column number.
• The MOD function will divide each column index by 2.
• Get two outputs: 1 & 0.
• Hit enter, and get the remainder as 1 as it is an odd column index.

• Drag the formula cell to the right to autofill all the columns.

• Change to number values to avoid undesired outcomes using the sort feature.
• Copy row 3.
• Right-click on the same row.
• Click the Paste Values option.

• Select the entire data range and go to Data > Sort.

• A dialogue box will pop up.
• Click Options.

• Another dialogue box shows up.
• Mark the Sort left to right option and press OK.

• Another dialogue box will be on the display.
• Select Row 3 in the Sort by box, and the Order will be Smallest to Largest.
• Tap OK.

• The output row is sorted from 0 to 1.

• Select 0 columns and right-click on them.
• Click Delete to remove the columns.

• Get the desired result.

Method 2 – Manually Select Column in Excel to Eliminate

Steps:

• Select the header of column C.
• Hold CTRL + left-click on the desired columns to select two or more columns.

• Right-click on the selected column.
• An option box will pop up, and select Delete.

• The columns are eliminated.

Method 3 – Delete Every Other Column Through Excel VBA

Steps:

• Go to the Developer bar and press Visual Basic.

• Click Insert and create a Module.

• Write the following VBA code in the module. You can also copy it from below.

Sub DltEvryOthrColumn()
Dim r As Range
Set r = Application.InputBox("Set the Range (Excluding headers)", "Range Selection", Type:=8)
For i = r.Columns.Count To 1 Step -2
If i Mod 2 = 0 Then
r.Columns(i).Delete
End If
Next i
End Sub

• Hit the Run icon.

• An input dialogue will be displayed.
• Select the whole dataset and press OK.

• Delete the alternate columns.

Method 4 – Apply Find and Replace to Remove Alternate Column

Steps:

• Select the whole dataset.
• Press Ctrl+F to open up the Find and Replace dialogue box.

• The dialogue box will pop up.
• Type Positive in the Find What box and press Find All.

• See the highlighted matching results, which will pop up under the box.
• Press Ctrl+A to select them all.

• Hold Ctrl and press the – key to open the delete dialogue box.
• Click the Entire column option and tap OK.

• The desired output will appear.

Method 5 – Delete Every Other Column using Blank Cell in Excel

Steps:

• Some columns have blank cells. Delete these entire columns.
• Select the whole dataset in the first place.

• Press F5 to open up the Go to the dialogue box.
• The dialogue box appears, and tap Special.

• Fill in the Blanks option and press OK.

• All the blank cells are highlighted.
• Right-click on any of those.

• Select the Entire column to delete the blank columns.

• Remove the blank cells from the dataset.

Download Practice Workbook

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