Excel Shortcut to Delete a Row (Windows and Mac)

In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select a cell in the row and press Shift+Space to select the entire worksheet row, then press Ctrl+- (the minus key) to delete it. If Excel shows a Delete dialog instead, choose Entire row and select OK.

The Windows shortcut, step by step

The shortcut has two parts: first select the row you mean to remove, then run the delete command. You do not have to highlight every cell manually. Click any cell in the target row and use this sequence:

Click a cell in the row you want to remove.
Press Shift+Space. Excel selects the whole worksheet row, including cells outside the visible data.
Press Ctrl+-. Use the minus key, not the plus key.
If a dialog appears, select Entire row, then choose OK or press Enter.

When the whole row is selected, Excel will generally delete it directly. When only a cell or a smaller range is selected, Ctrl+- opens the Delete dialog because Excel needs to know whether you want to shift cells, remove a row, or remove a column. The dialog is a useful safeguard: check the selected option before confirming so that neighboring data does not move unexpectedly.

How to select the right row

Shift+Space is often faster and more precise than dragging across a worksheet, especially when the row contains many columns or extends beyond the area currently on screen. The row number at the left edge of the sheet also provides a visual check: after selecting the row, its number and the cells across that row should be highlighted.

You can select a row without a shortcut by clicking its row number. To select several adjacent rows, drag over their row numbers, or select the first row and use Shift while selecting the last. Ctrl+- then removes the selected rows. To select nonadjacent rows, hold Ctrl while clicking their row numbers on Windows, then use the delete command. Be deliberate with nonadjacent selections: every highlighted row will be removed.

If you only select a few cells and choose Entire row in the Delete dialog, Excel still removes the complete worksheet row. That means information in other columns, including cells you cannot currently see, is deleted too. If you intend to remove only a few entries from one column, select those cells and choose an appropriate shift option instead—or clear their contents if the surrounding layout should stay in place.

What deleting a row actually does

Deleting a worksheet row removes its cells across the sheet and shifts the rows below it upward. For example, deleting row 8 makes the former row 9 become row 8. The worksheet does not keep an empty gap at the deleted position. This differs from clearing a row, which leaves the row in place but removes its contents or formatting.

Deleting a row can affect more than the visible values. It may remove formulas, notes, formatting, data validation, or other content stored in that row. Excel commonly adjusts formulas that refer to cells around a deleted row, but deleting cells that a formula depends on can alter the formula or produce a reference error. Before deleting a row from a calculation or report, check whether other sheets, charts, or summaries use its data.

A worksheet has row numbers all the way down, so the shortcut applies to an entire sheet row—not just the part of the row containing data. If the table is only one section of a larger worksheet, consider whether you mean to remove a worksheet row or only a record within that section.

Other ways to delete a worksheet row

Keyboard shortcuts are not the only option. These methods are useful if you forget the key combination, are working with a touchpad, or want to confirm the command visually:

Row heading: Right-click the row number and choose Delete.
Ribbon: Select a cell in the row, then choose Home > Delete > Delete Sheet Rows.
Delete dialog: Select a cell or range, press Ctrl+-, choose Entire row, and confirm.

The ribbon command explicitly names sheet rows, which can help distinguish removing a worksheet row from clearing cells. Right-clicking a row heading is also clear because the entire row is selected before you choose Delete. If you use the ribbon, make sure you choose Delete Sheet Rows, rather than a command that clears cell contents.

Deleting a row in an Excel table

An Excel table is a structured range with features such as filter buttons and automatically expanding rows. A table record is not always the same thing as a whole worksheet row: other data may sit beside the table on the same sheet row. If you want to remove one record while keeping neighboring worksheet content, use the table-specific command.

Click a cell in the table record, right-click, and choose Delete > Table Rows when that option is available. This removes the selected table row or rows from the table rather than treating the action as a request to delete an entire worksheet row. You can also use the table commands on the ribbon where available, but check the command name and selection before confirming.

By contrast, selecting the worksheet row number and deleting it removes that full sheet row, including cells outside the table. This distinction matters when a worksheet has a table in columns A through D and unrelated notes in column F. Removing the table record is usually the more targeted choice if the notes must remain in their existing rows.

Delete a row or clear its contents?

Use delete when the row itself should disappear and the rows below should move up. Use Clear Contents when you want to empty cells but preserve the row’s position. On Windows, selecting cells and pressing the Delete key clears their contents; it does not remove the worksheet row. Depending on the keyboard, Backspace may behave differently, but neither key is a substitute for selecting a row and using Ctrl+-.

For example, if a list has a blank line between two records and you want the records to close the gap, delete the blank row. If a template has a fixed set of entry lines and you need one line to remain available for later, clear its contents instead. Deleting rows from a formatted template may also affect formulas, borders, and print layout, so clearing can be the better choice when the structure is intentional.

Common problems and checks

The Delete dialog appears: This is normal when Excel has a cell or partial range selected. Choose Entire row if that is the intended action.
The wrong cells move: You may have selected a range rather than the whole row, or chosen a shift option in the dialog. Use Shift+Space first, then inspect the highlighted row.
Nothing happens: Check that the worksheet is not protected. Protection can restrict row deletion; an authorized user may need to unprotect the sheet before making the change.
A filter is active: A filtered list can hide rows, making it harder to tell which records are selected. Confirm the visible record and selection carefully. For a table record, prefer the table-row delete command when you want to remove only that record.
The sheet contains merged cells: Merged areas can make selections and structural edits less straightforward. Review the selected range and any warning Excel displays before confirming.

Also check for grouped rows or hidden rows. A selection that covers multiple row numbers can remove more than one row, including rows that are not obvious in the current view. If the data is important, save a copy or verify the selection before deleting. This is especially sensible in shared workbooks, imported reports, and sheets with formulas that are difficult to reconstruct.

Undoing a mistaken deletion

If you delete the wrong row, press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo the action. You can also select Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar. Check that the restored row contains the expected values and formulas before continuing; a later action may require more than one undo to return the sheet to its earlier state.

Undo is most dependable right after the deletion. Do not assume it will remain available indefinitely, particularly after closing the workbook or performing actions that clear Excel’s undo history. For important work, save a separate copy before making a broad cleanup. This is more reliable than treating Undo as a permanent backup, and it gives you a way to compare the original structure if a deletion has wider effects than expected.

Excel for Mac and Excel for the web

In Excel for Mac, Shift+Space selects the row, and Control+- (Control plus the minus key) is the standard delete-cells shortcut. If the selection is not a full row, Excel may ask what to delete; choose the entire row when appropriate. Mac keyboard layouts and system settings can affect how shortcut keys behave, so the menu route is a dependable alternative: select the row, then use the Delete command from Excel’s menus or context menu.

In Excel for the web, shortcut behavior can depend on the browser and keyboard. Select the row using its row heading, then use the available context-menu or ribbon delete command if the key combination is intercepted or does not produce the expected result. In every version, confirm whether the command removes a worksheet row or just a table row before proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut to delete a row in Excel?
On Windows, select the row with Shift+Space and press Ctrl+-. On Mac, select it with Shift+Space and use Control+-. If Excel opens a dialog, choose Entire row.

How do I delete a row without the Delete dialog?
Select the entire row first, either by pressing Shift+Space from a cell in it or clicking the row number. Then use the delete shortcut. If you select only a cell or a partial range, Excel may show the dialog so you can specify what to remove.

Does the Delete key remove an entire row?
No. The Delete key generally clears the contents of selected cells. To remove a worksheet row and shift the rows below upward, select the row and use Ctrl+- on Windows or the relevant delete command in Excel.

How do I delete only a row from a table?
Right-click a cell in the table record and choose Delete > Table Rows when available. Avoid deleting the worksheet row number if you need to keep other cells on that same sheet row in place.

Can I undo deleting a row?
Usually, yes: press Ctrl+Z on Windows or use Excel’s Undo command immediately. If you have closed the workbook or the undo history is no longer available, you may need a saved copy or another version of the file to restore the row.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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