In this article, I will tell you how to swap 2 excel columns data in several ways. It will also tell you how to swap 2 adjacent columns quickly using keyboard. All the methods can be used to swap 2 excel rows.
1. How To Swap Two Columns Of Data In Excel?
- Swapping two columns in Excel can be done in several ways depending on the version of MS Excel that you are using.
- Below are some methods that you can use.
1.1 Method 1: Using Drag and Drop
- Select the column that you want to move.
- Position your mouse pointer on the top of the selected column until it becomes a four-headed arrow.
- Click and hold the mouse button, and then drag the column to the location where you want to move it.
- Release the mouse button when the insertion line is at the desired location.
- Repeat this action to move another column to swap the 2 columns of data in excel.
1.2 Method 2: Using Cut and Paste.
- Select the column that you want to move.
- Right-click on the column header and choose “Cut” from the context menu or press “Ctrl + X” on your keyboard.
- Select the column next to the one you want to swap.
- Right-click on the column header and choose the menu item “Insert Cut Cells” from the pop up menu list.
- Then it will insert the cut column to the location.
- Do the same to cut and paste the other column of data to the target column location.
1.3 Method 3: Using Copy and Paste.
- Select the column that you want to move.
- Right-click on the column header and choose “Copy” from the context menu or press “Ctrl + C” on your keyboard.
- Select the column next to the target column.
- Right-click on the column header and choose “Insert Copied Cells“.
- This will insert the copied column to the next column of the target column.
- Right-click the original column that you just copied from and click the Delete menu item in the pop up menu list.
- Then it will delete the original column.
- Do the same to move the other column to the target column to swap the 2 columns of data.
2. How To Swap Two Adjacent Columns Of Data In Excel Quickly.
- If you want to exchange two adjacent columns of data in Excel, you can use the following method quickly.
- If you want to swap the two columns A1:A20 and B1:B20, you can first select area A1:A20, and then move the mouse pointer to the right edge of this column.
- When the shape of the mouse pointer becomes a four-way arrow, you need to hold down Shift key, then press down the left button of the mouse, and drag it to the right border line of area B1:B20.
- Release the left mouse button and then the Shift key, and the two columns are swapped.
- Note that you should not release the Shift key first, otherwise the operation becomes moving column A to column C.
- You can use the same method to swap two adjacent rows also.