How to merge cells in an excel table

Answer

To merge cells in an Excel table, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells you want to merge. The cells can be in a row, column, or a block. The top-left cell will determine the content that remains after merging.

2. Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon.

3. In the Alignment group, click on Merge & Center. This will merge the selected cells and center the content in the resulting cell.

4. Alternatively, click the small dropdown arrow next to Merge & Center to see additional options:

   • Merge Across: Merges selected cells in each row individually without merging rows together.

   • Merge Cells: Combines all selected cells into one without changing alignment.

   • Unmerge Cells: Splits merged cells back into their original separate cells.

5. Ensure that only one piece of data exists in the selected cells. Excel will keep the content of the upper-left cell and discard the content of other cells when merging.

6. For tables created using Insert > Table, you can merge cells, but merged cells can affect sorting and filtering. Avoid merging cells in critical table columns if sorting or filtering will be applied.

Notes for Windows vs. Mac

• On Windows, the Merge & Center button is found under Home > Alignment.

• On Mac, it appears in the same Home > Alignment section, but the dropdown menu labels are identical.

Practical Example

You have a table showing quarterly sales:

To create a title spanning the entire table:

1. Select all cells in the top row.

2. Click Merge & Center.

3. Enter the title "Quarterly Sales Report."

This results in a visually clear header without affecting the underlying data structure in the table body.

Merging cells is best used for formatting, headings, or visual clarity, not for calculations, because merged cells can interfere with Excel formulas.

Yes · 0 No · 0 Add Comment · 0

Add ·

Report