FREE COURSE · MODULE 1 OF 12
Keyboard shortcuts are the cheapest productivity gain in Excel. Learn the twenty below first, then add a group each week. Windows keys are shown; on a Mac use ⌘ where Ctrl is written.
The twenty to learn first
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select the whole data region | Ctrl + A |
| Jump to the edge of data | Ctrl + Arrow |
| Select to the edge of data | Ctrl + Shift + Arrow |
| Go to first cell / last used cell | Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End |
| Format Cells dialog | Ctrl + 1 |
| Insert rows, columns or cells | Ctrl + Shift + + |
| Delete rows, columns or cells | Ctrl + − |
| Fill down / fill right | Ctrl + D / Ctrl + R |
| Flash Fill | Ctrl + E |
| AutoSum | Alt + = |
| Toggle absolute reference ($) in a formula | F4 |
| Edit the active cell | F2 |
| Insert today’s date / current time | Ctrl + ; / Ctrl + Shift + ; |
| Find / Replace | Ctrl + F / Ctrl + H |
| Filter on / off | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Create an Excel Table | Ctrl + T |
| New chart on the same sheet | Alt + F1 |
| Next / previous worksheet | Ctrl + Page Down / Ctrl + Page Up |
| Paste Special | Ctrl + Alt + V |
| Open the VBA editor | Alt + F11 |
File and general
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New workbook | Ctrl + N |
| Open | Ctrl + O |
| Save / Save As | Ctrl + S / F12 |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Switch between open workbooks | Ctrl + F6 |
| Close workbook | Ctrl + F4 |
| Undo / Redo | Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y |
| Insert a new worksheet | Shift + F11 |
Navigation and selection
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Next / previous cell in the row | Tab / Shift + Tab |
| Up / down one screen | Page Up / Page Down |
| Select entire row | Shift + Space |
| Select entire column | Ctrl + Space |
| Extend selection by one cell | Shift + Arrow |
| Go To dialog | F5 or Ctrl + G |
| Name box (jump to a named range) | Alt + F3 |
Formatting
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Ctrl + B / Ctrl + I / Ctrl + U |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl + 5 |
| Number format | Ctrl + Shift + 1 |
| Time format | Ctrl + Shift + 2 |
| Date format | Ctrl + Shift + 3 |
| Currency format | Ctrl + Shift + 4 |
| Percentage format | Ctrl + Shift + 5 |
| Outline border / remove borders | Ctrl + Shift + 7 / Ctrl + Shift + _ |
| New line inside a cell | Alt + Enter |
| Change font / font size | Ctrl + Shift + F / Ctrl + Shift + P |
Editing and formulas
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Cut / Copy / Paste | Ctrl + X / Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V |
| Copy value from the cell above | Ctrl + ' |
| Show formulas instead of results | Ctrl + ` |
| Insert function dialog | Shift + F3 |
| Recalculate all | F9 |
| Edit a cell comment / note | Shift + F2 |
| Create a chart on a new sheet | F11 |
| Hide row / hide column | Ctrl + 9 / Ctrl + 0 |
| Group / ungroup rows or columns | Alt + Shift + → / Alt + Shift + ← |
How to actually remember them: pick five, write them on a sticky note, and refuse to use the mouse for those five actions for one week. Then pick the next five. Within two months the twenty core shortcuts are automatic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt key sequence?
Press and release Alt to show letters on the ribbon, then type the letters shown. For example Alt, H, O, I auto-fits column width. It works for every ribbon command.
Are the shortcuts the same on a Mac?
Most are, with ⌘ instead of Ctrl. A few differ: Format Cells is ⌘ + 1, and Flash Fill is Ctrl + E on both.