Selecting Whole Rows and Columns
Click a row number or a column letter to select the entire row or column in one click.
The Headings Are Buttons
The grey numbers down the left and letters across the top are not just labels. Click one and you select that entire row or column.
- Click the heading — Row number or column letter
- Whole line selects — All 16,384 or 1,048,576 cells
- Drag across headings — Selects several at once
How to do it
Click a column letter ▸ whole column Click a row number ▸ whole row
Ctrl + Space selects the column of the active cell. Shift + Space selects the row.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Column letter | Selects the whole column |
| Row number | Selects the whole row |
| Ctrl + Space | Column, from the keyboard |
| Shift + Space | Row, from the keyboard |
Selecting Whole Lines
Ctrl + Space = whole column Shift + Space = whole row
| Action | Selects | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Click column letter | One whole column | Ctrl + Space |
| Click row number | One whole row | Shift + Space |
| Drag across letters | Several columns | Ctrl+Space then Shift+arrow |
| Click corner box | The entire sheet | Ctrl + A |
Result: Ctrl+Space
Use whole column selection to format, but avoid it inside formulas on big files.
Do this
- Use Ctrl + Space and Shift + Space
- Drag across headings for several lines
- Right-click a heading to insert or delete
Avoid
- Formatting whole columns and bloating the file
- Using A:A inside heavy formulas
- Deleting a whole row when you meant one cell
📌 Formatting a whole column applies to every one of its million cells, which can bloat the file.
Practice
- Select column C by clicking its letter.
- Select row 8 with Shift + Space.
- Select columns B to E by dragging the letters.
Quick quiz: Which shortcut selects the entire row that the active cell sits in?
- Ctrl + Space
- Shift + Space
- Ctrl + A
Show answer
Shift + Space = row Ctrl + Space = column — Shift is wide like a row. Ctrl is the other one. Many people remember it that way.
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