When working with large spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel, having scattered empty cells can disrupt calculations, sorting, filtering, and overall data organization. If you’re wondering how to delete empty cells in Excel, this step-by-step guide will walk you through various methods to remove blank cells, whether in rows, columns, or specific data ranges.
Why Delete Empty Cells in Excel?
Deleting empty cells can significantly improve the functionality and appearance of your worksheet:
It removes gaps in your dataset
Prepares your sheet for sorting and filtering
Improves the accuracy of formulas and pivot tables
Helps when importing or exporting data
Ensures a professional presentation of reports
While Excel doesn’t offer a single “delete all empty cells” button, there are quick and effective ways to clean your sheet using built-in tools.
Important Things to Know Before Deleting
Before you start, be clear on what you want to delete:
Entire rows or columns that are blank
Individual empty cells that shift other data up or left
Empty cells in a specific range only
Also, remember that deleting empty cells may shift surrounding data. Always back up your file or worksheet before performing bulk deletions.
How to Delete Empty Cells by Shifting Data Up
This method is helpful when you want to remove blank cells in a single column and shift the data upwards.
Steps:
- Open your Excel spreadsheet
- Select the column or range where you want to remove empty cells
- Press F5 or Ctrl + G to open the Go To dialog
- Click Special
- Select Blanks and press OK
- All empty cells in your selection will be highlighted
- Right-click any highlighted cell and choose Delete
- In the pop-up, select Shift cells up
- Click OK
This compresses your data by moving non-blank cells into the empty spaces.
How to Delete Empty Cells by Shifting Data Left
For rows with gaps (empty cells), you can use the same method but shift data to the left instead.
Steps:
- Select the row or range
- Press F5 > Special > Blanks
- Right-click and choose Delete
- Select Shift cells left
- Click OK
This removes blank spots horizontally, which is useful in tables or survey data.
How to Delete Entire Blank Rows in Excel
If you’re working with a dataset that has completely empty rows, here’s how to remove them quickly.
Steps:
- Select the entire data range or the worksheet
- Press F5 > Special > Blanks
- Right-click on one of the selected blank cells
- Click Delete
- Choose Entire row
- Click OK
All rows containing blank cells (only blank cells) will be removed.
How to Delete Entire Blank Columns
To delete entire columns that are empty:
- Select the worksheet or data area
- Press F5 > Special > Blanks
- Use Go To Special > Blanks, then press Ctrl + Space to highlight entire columns
- Right-click one of the selected column headers
- Choose Delete
Use this when your sheet has unused columns between populated ones.
How to Use Filters to Delete Empty Cells
You can also use Excel’s filter tool to find and remove empty cells.
Steps:
- Select the column with potential empty cells
- Go to the Data tab
- Click Filter
- Click the filter drop-down arrow
- Uncheck Select All and then check only Blanks
- Only the rows with empty cells will show
- Select and delete these rows or cells
- Remove the filter when done
This is especially helpful for datasets with multiple entries where you want to target blanks specifically.
How to Use Power Query to Remove Blank Rows
For advanced users or large datasets, Power Query offers a powerful way to clean data.
Steps:
- Select your data and go to Data > Get & Transform > From Table/Range
- In the Power Query Editor, select the filter icon of the column with blanks
- Uncheck null to remove blank entries
- Click Close & Load to return cleaned data to Excel
This is ideal for recurring reports and automated data cleaning.
Keyboard Shortcuts to Speed Up the Process
Use these handy shortcuts:
F5 > Special > Blanks — Quickly selects all empty cells
Ctrl + – — Opens the delete menu
Ctrl + Shift + L — Toggles filters on and off
Ctrl + Space — Selects the entire column
Shift + Space — Selects the entire row
Using keyboard shortcuts can make the process faster and more efficient.
Best Practices Before Deleting Blank Cells
Always make a copy of your data before making bulk changes
Use conditional formatting to visually identify blank cells first
Be cautious when deleting blank cells across formulas—they might break
Check if blanks are truly empty and not hidden values like spaces or formulas returning “”
Cleaning up empty cells improves not just appearance but also data integrity.
FAQs About Deleting Empty Cells in Excel
How do I delete all empty cells in Excel at once?
Use Go To Special > Blanks, then delete by choosing to shift cells up or left. This works within selected ranges.
What’s the difference between deleting a row and deleting a cell?
Deleting a cell shifts surrounding data. Deleting a row removes the entire row from the worksheet.
Can I undo deleted empty cells?
Yes, use Ctrl + Z to undo the deletion immediately. After saving and closing, recovery may not be possible.
How do I check if a cell is truly empty?
Use the ISBLANK() formula or inspect for invisible characters like spaces or formulas that return empty text.
Will deleting empty cells affect formulas?
It can. Deleting cells might move or remove cells that formulas depend on, so always double-check your formulas afterward.