How to Insert a Column to the Left in Excel (6 Methods) 

While working in Excel, you might need to insert a new column if you missed it earlier. Certainly, you can accomplish the simple but necessary task within seconds in Excel. In this instructive session, I’ll show you 6 methods including shortcut and VBA code on how to insert a column to the left as well as a bonus method to insert multiple columns in Excel.

Let’s introduce today’s dataset (B4:D15 cell range) as shown in the following screenshot. Here, the Number of Visits for each website is provided along with the Name and Categories of the Sites. However, I want to add the mode of Platforms to the left of the Number of Visits column.

Let’s explore the methods.

1. Using Context Menu to Insert Column to the Left in Excel

In the beginning method, I’ll discuss how you can utilize the Insert option from the Context Menu. Follow the steps below.

➜ Initially, select any cell within the column Number of Visits. Later, right-click and choose the Insert option from the Context Menu.

➜ Next, you’ll see a dialog box namely Insert. Then, check the circle before the Entire Column option.

After pressing OK, you’ll get a new column to the left of your specified column.

Again, if you enter the data, the newly inserted column will look as follows.

Alternatively, if you want to skip the opening of the Insert dialog box, you may adapt the following way.

➜ First, click on the column letters (e.g. D for the Number of Visits column) to select the entire column.

➜ Now, just choose the Insert option from the Context Menu.

Shortly, you’ll get the new column as shown in the following screenshot.

Read More: Insert Column with Name in Excel VBA

2. Applying Keyboard Shortcut to Insert a Column to Left 

Undoubtedly, the keyboard shortcut is fruitful especially when you have to insert a new column to the left in Excel. You can use the following shortcuts to insert new column in Excel.

➜ Select a cell within the column and press CTRL + SHIFT + +. Eventually, the Insert dialog box will be opened, and the circle before the Entire column option.

But if you want to execute the same task quickly, you might press CTRL + Spacebar to select the entire column. Then, press CTRL + SHIFT + + to insert a column to the left of the Number of Visits column.

If you adapt any of the above-discussed ways, you’ll get the newly inserted column.

3. Using Insert Command to Insert Column to Left in Excel

Furthermore, you can utilize the Insert feature from the Excel ribbon. You have to select a cell within the column exactly and choose the Insert Sheet Columns option from the drop-down list in the Insert option which exists in the Cells ribbon.

Eventually, you’ll get the following output.

Read More: How to Insert Column without Affecting Formulas in Excel

4. Inserting Column to the Left in Excel Table

What if you want to insert a column to the left in the case of an Excel table?

To be honest, it is quite a simple task.

➜ Rightly, you need to select a cell within the column and pick the Insert Table Columns to the Left option from the drop-down list in the Insert option.

➜ Otherwise, you can also use the Insert option from the Context Menu to accomplish the same task.

However, you’ll get the inserted column (insert data as you prefer) in the table as shown below.

Read More: Excel Fix: Insert Column Option Greyed out

5. Applying VBA Macro to Insert Column to Left

Again, if you are accustomed to using the VBA code, you may use it to insert a column directly without picking any options.

Needless to say, you need to create a module to insert the VBA code.

➤ Firstly, open a module by clicking Developer > Visual Basic (keyboard shortcut: ALT + F11).

➤ Secondly, go to Insert > Module.

Then, copy the following code.

Sub Insert_Column()

Columns("D:D").Insert Shift:=xlToLeft

End Sub

In the above code, I used the Columns property to assign the range of the Number of Visits column. Later, I used the Insert method to insert a new column along with the xlToLeft, a notable End property to locate the new column in the left position.

When you run the code (the keyboard shortcut is F5 or Fn + F5), you’ll get the following filtered dataset.

Read More: How to Insert a Column Between Every Other Column in Excel

6. Inserting Multiple Excel Columns to the Left

The last and sixth method is to insert multiple columns to the left.

Luckily, you can insert multiple columns for adjacent cells and non-adjacent cells. Here, I am showing the process for non-contiguous cells.

Let me clear this thing. I want to insert a column to the left of the Categories of the Sites and another column to the left of the Number of Visits column.

➜ Right now, click on the two-column letters (e.g. C and D) holding the CTRL key. Subsequently, choose the Insert option from the Context Menu.

Finally, you’ll get two inserted columns (after inserting columns I filled them with data) as shown in the following screenshot.

Read More: Cannot Insert Column in Excel

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Conclusion

That’s the end of today’s session. So, you might insert a column to the left utilizing the above methods in Excel. Anyway, if you have any queries or recommendations, please share them in the comments section.

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