Tanjima Hossain
In this article, you will learn everything about how to insert columns in Excel. We will demonstrate five easy methods to insert a column in Excel. We will also show you some shortcut techniques to insert columns in Excel. Additionally, you will learn how to insert a column to the left in Excel, as well as inserting columns between columns. The next thing is how you can insert columns without affecting formulas in Excel.
Furthermore, we will demonstrate how you can insert columns in Excel with VBA. You’ll learn how to insert columns with names using VBA. This article also covers the way to insert a clustered column chart in Excel with some easy steps. Last but not least, we’ll show you possible causes and solutions when Excel won’t let you insert a column.
While working in Excel, you might need to insert a new column if you miss it earlier. This is a really easy task and you can do it in various ways. In this article, we will show you all possible techniques and methods to insert columns in Excel.
I hope you find this article informative and useful. So, let’s get into the main discussion.
Download Excel Workbook
You may download the following Excel workbook for better understanding and practice yourself.
5 Methods to Insert a Column in Excel
For ease of understanding, we are going to use a Product List. Let’s get introduced to the data table first. This dataset contains four columns named Product, Product Code, Color, and Price under columns B, C, D, and E correspondingly.
Note: This is a basic dataset to keep things simple. In a practical scenario, you may encounter a much larger and more complex dataset.
Therefore, using this dataset, we’ll show 5 easy and quick methods to insert a column in Excel. So, let’s explore these approaches one by one.
Here, we have used the Microsoft Excel 365 version, you may use any other version according to your convenience. Please leave a comment if any part of this article does not work in your version.
1. Using Insert Command
In our first method, we’ll use the Insert command in Excel. Just follow these simple steps.
📌 Steps:
- At the very beginning, select the column from which on the left side a new column is required.
Here, suppose we want to add a column named Size between the Color and the Price columns.
- So, select Column E.
- Then, navigate to the Home tab.
- After that, click on the Insert drop-down icon on the Cells group of commands.
- Later, select Insert Sheet Columns from the available options.
Here is the result below. We can see a new column just between the above-mentioned two columns.
- Now, give the preferred heading in cell E4.
Read More: Excel Fix: Insert Column Option Greyed out (9 Solutions)
2. Utilizing Mouse and Keyboard Shortcut
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Are there any shortcut keys? Lucky you! There are shortcut keys for inserting columns in Excel. And our following method describes just that. It’s simple & easy, just follow along.
📌 Steps:
Simply select the entire column from which you want to create a new column on the left side.
- At first, select Column E and right-click on the column heading E.
- From the context menu, click on the Insert option from the Context Menu.
However, you can do the same by selecting the column and then pressing SHIFT + CTRL + +.
In this way, the same result as below will occur.
Now, a new column named Size will be inserted, as shown below.
Read More: Shortcuts to Insert Column in Excel (4 Easiest Ways)
3. Inserting New Columns Simultaneously for Non-Contiguous Columns
Non-contiguous columns represent the columns that are not adjacent to each other, which means separated columns. Suppose I need columns named ID No. before Product Code and Size before Price. So, what can we do now? Don’t worry. Observe the following steps.
📌 Steps:
- Firstly, select the entire Product Code named column by clicking on Column C and then press CTRL and select the Price column by clicking on Column E.
In this way, various numbers of non-adjacent columns can be selected.
- Afterward, follow the steps of Method 1.
By following this way, Excel is showing two new columns named ID and Size as below.
Similar Readings
- Insert Column with Name in Excel VBA (5 Examples)
- Cannot Insert Column in Excel (All Possible Causes with Solutions)
4. Inserting Column into a Formatted Table
Sometimes a new column is needed for a formatted table. If you are ever in such a situation, mimic these simple steps.
📌 Steps:
For this, you just have to select the column from which, on the left side, you want a new column. Here, I wanted a column named Size before the Color column, so we must select the Color column.
- Initially, select cells in the D4:D14 range which is the Color column.
- Then, go to the Home tab.
- Next, click on the Insert drop-down.
- Following this, select the Insert Table Columns to the Left option.
Immediately, you can see a new column with the heading Size formed before the Color column.
Read More: How to Insert a Column Between Every Other Column in Excel (3 Methods)
5. Employing VBA Code
You might be wondering, “Is there a way to automate this task?” Then VBA has you covered. Just follow along.
📌 Steps:
- Primarily, right-click on the sheet name VBA.
- On the context menu, select the View Code option.
Instantly, it will get us to the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window and Excel will automatically insert a code module for this sheet.
- Now, paste the two following sub-procedures into the code module.
Sub Insert_Column()
Range("E1").EntireColumn.Insert
End Sub
Sub Column_Name()
Dim Name: Name = Split("Size")
Sheet6.Range("E4").Resize(1, UBound(Name) + 1) = Name
End Sub
- At this time, get back to the worksheet and call the macros. Eventually, you’ll get the following output.
Just watch the following GIF to understand the process quickly.
Read More: How to Insert Column without Affecting Formulas in Excel (2 Ways)
How to Insert Multiple Columns Simultaneously
If you need more than one column before any column, then you have to select the following columns with the same number as the required columns.
As an example, here, I need two columns named Material and Size before the Color column. So, without further delay, let’s dive in!
📌 Steps:
- At first, select the following two columns named Color and Price.
- Then, right-click on your mouse and click on the Insert option.
And here’s the result before your eyes.
Practice Section
For doing practice by yourself, we have provided a Practice section like the one below on each sheet on the right side. Please do it yourself.
Insert Column in Excel: Knowledge Hub
- Shortcut to Insert Column in Excel
- Insert a Column to the Left in Excel
- Insert a Column Between Every Other Column in Excel
- Insert Column in Excel Without Affecting Formulas
- Insert Column in Excel with VBA
- Excel VBA: Insert Column With Name
- Insert a Clustered Column Chart in Excel
- [Fixed!] Cannot Insert Column in Excel
Conclusion
This article covers every possible way to insert a column in Excel in a simple and concise manner. Don’t forget to download the Practice file. Thank you for reading this article. We hope this was helpful. Please let us know in the comment section if you have any queries or suggestions. Please visit our website, ExcelDemy, a one-stop Excel solution provider, to explore more.
