You can insert single or multiple rows in your Excel sheet in a few simple steps.
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To insert multiple rows in Excel, first highlight the number of rows you want to add.
Then, right-click the selected rows and click Insert in the context menu.
You can also add a row in Excel by right-clicking any cell and clicking Insert.
Let’s say you’re working in an Excel worksheet and realize that you need to insert additional rows of data.
Luckily, Excel has a built in feature to allow users to insert multiple blank rows. You can even insert blank rows in between each row you’ve selected, but this involves a little workaround.
So whether you’re on PC or Mac, here’s how to add multiple rows in Excel.
How to insert multiple rows in Excel
1. Select the row below where you want the new rows to appear.
2. Right-click on the highlighted row, and then click Insert in the context menu. This will insert one row above the row you initially highlighted.
Quick tip: You can also add a row by right-clicking a cell, and then clicking Insert. In the Insert dialog box, select the Entire Row radial button, and then click OK.
In the “Insert” dialog box, check the “Entire Row” radial button and then click “OK.”
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3. To insert multiple rows, select the same number of rows that you want to insert. To select multiple rows hold down the Shift key on your keyboard on a Mac or PC. For example, if you want to insert six rows, select six rows while holding the Shift key. It doesn’t matter if the selected rows have data in them, because the new rows will be inserted above these rows as one singular group and will not be inserted above each individual row.
4. Then, right-click inside the selected area and click Insert in the context menu.
5. Six new rows will appear above the selected six rows.
Quick tip: To insert multiple rows using a shortcut, select the number of rows you want to add and press Ctrl + Shift + Plus sign (+).
How to insert rows in between other rows in Excel
If you want to insert a blank row between every other row, you’re going to need what’s known as a helper column.
1. In the blank column after each row, insert a number – this will be your helper column. The numbers should be in ascending order – if you have selected 10 rows, insert 1 in the helper column of the first row, insert 2 in the helper column of the second row, and so on, until you reach row 10.
Insert numbers in the helper column in ascending order.
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2. Copy the numbers in the helper column, and then paste them directly below the last number within the same column.
Copy the numbers in the helper column, and then paste them directly below the last number in the same column.
Stefan Ionescu
3. Select the entire data set – this should include all the values in the helper column as well.
Select the entire data set.
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4. In the Home tab, click Sort & Filter, and then select Custom sort from the list of options.
Click on “Sort & Filter” in the Home tab, and then select “Custom sort.”
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5. Under Column, make sure the Sort by dropdown is set to the helper column – in our example, this is (Column B). Also, ensure the dropdown under Sort On is set to Values, and that the one under Order is set to Smallest to largest.
Make sure everything is ready for the sort.
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6. Click OK, and you’ll see that new rows have been added below each row in the data set.
7. Clean up the extra data by highlighting the helper column, right-clicking inside the selected area, and clicking Clear Contents.
Clear the helper column to get rid of the extra bits of data.
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