Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Inserting Rows.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 9, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365
If you want to insert rows in a worksheet, you probably know that you can do so by displaying the Home tab of the ribbon, clicking the down-arrow under or to the right of or under the Insert tool (in the Cells group), and then choosing Insert Sheet Rows. This works marvelously for inserting single rows.
If you want to insert multiple rows, you have several choices. First, you can insert a single row by using the tools on the ribbon, as already mentioned. Then you simply press F4 repeat the command and keep inserting rows.
The second method involves selecting rows before inserting. For instance, if you want to insert five rows, select five existing rows in the worksheet, display the Home tab of the ribbon, click the down-arrow under or to the right of the Insert tool (in the Cells group) and then choose Insert Sheet Rows. Excel dutifully inserts five rows in your worksheet, just before the first row you selected.
If you want to insert rows without using the mouse at all, select the entire row (or rows if you want to add multiple rows), and then you can use the shortcut Ctrl++ (that means hold down the Ctrl key as you press the plus sign) and then press enter. Quick, easy, and painless!
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6117) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Inserting Rows.
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Grab some info from a source other than Excel, and you may find the need to delete a certain pattern of rows from a ...
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2019-06-21 17:55:50
Peter Atherton
Kittye
I tried to post this last night but it failed. Try this
Sub ChangeInsertRows()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim xRow As Long
For xRow = Application.Cells(Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row To 3 Step -1
Rows(xRow).Resize(1).Insert
Next xRow
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
HTH
2019-06-21 03:55:21
SteveJez
Kittye,
The following should do what you need
Sub InsertRow()
Dim i As Integer
Dim t As Integer
t = 10 ' total No of rows
For i = 1 To t
ActiveCell.EntireRow.Insert
ActiveCell.Offset(2, 0).Activate
Next i
End Sub
HTH
Steve
2019-06-20 09:07:12
Kittye Taylor
I need to add a blank row under each row of 200+ rows of data. Anyone? Thanks ahead of time! :)
2019-05-08 09:23:49
John Mann
I can't remember the last time I used the ribbon to insert (or delete) row or columnws. Having selected a row (or several rows) with my mouse, I simply right click the selected tow(s) and choose "Insert" (or "Delete) from the context menu. Job done.
2019-04-29 10:38:54
J. Woolley
@Alex B - See https://excelribbon.tips.net/T001664_Swapping_Two_Cells.html#comment-form-hd for more on swapping cells.
2019-04-29 03:54:08
Alan
Shift + Spacebar selects the whole row, avoiding need for the options dialog.
2019-04-28 06:55:21
Alex B
@Willy V - Love your switch cells trick, works on multiple cells too
(you only need to select 1 target cell.)
2019-04-27 12:41:20
Willy Vanhaelen
Using the Ctrl++ combination you even don't need to highlight the entire row. It works with a single cell selected as well but then you get a dialog with 4 options. Select Entire Row and press Enter (or simply Ctrl++ R Enter). This also works with 2 or more row cells selected and works as well with columns (Ctrl++ C Enter).
Another Ctrl++ trick. If you want to switch 2 cells, select the right cell, press Ctrl+X, select the left cell and press Ctrl++, done!
2019-04-27 08:49:48
Will
OMG! I'll use this tip every day. Multiple times. Works in Spreadsheets (WPS Office), also.
2019-04-27 07:48:26
Jym396j
Doesn't Ctrl+y also repeat the last action performed?
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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