How to Drag Columns in Excel

As already mentioned, dragging columns in Excel is a bit more complex procedure than one could expect. In fact, it’s one of those cases that can be classified as “easier said than done”. But maybe it’s just a lack of sleight-of-hand ability. Nevertheless, with some practice, you can get it to work, and easily manage also.

Step 1: Select the entire column you want to move

Select Whole Column

Step 2: Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the selected column

Copy the Column

Step 3: Right-click on another blank cell where you want to move this copied data

Right-blank on blank cell

Step 4: Click Paste Special from right-click context menu

Click Paste Special

Step 5: Transpose the Data

The data will be pasted as transposed in a row instead of a column.

Alternatively, you can also use Alt+H,V,S,T combination for transpose action (alt + H redirected you home tab) (Alt+V gives access Edit Tab), by pressing S & T.

Transpose the Data

Step 6: Once again, copy all cells(row which has been changed before)

Step 7: Delete the non-required set of lines only (since other set lines are duplicated)

Delete not-required lines

Step 8: Then delete leftover empty rows created after the previous step (select whole blocks with the help shift key Equation key).

Step 9: Paste them below where you want to place them.

The cut column will be inserted before the selected column, effectively swapping their positions.

How to Swap Columns in Excel

Column swapping in Excel seems like a hectic task. Well, now it has been made a bit simple because of some new methods by which you can just swap the columns and do your need full work more efficiently. In this article, you will learn how to drag columns and how to move them. If you extensively use Excel tables in your daily work, you know that whatever logical and well-thought-out a table’s structure is, still you have to reorder your columns and credentials every now and then.

Table of Content

How to Swap Columns in Excel
How to Drag Columns in Excel
How to Move Several Columns in Excel
How to Swap Columns by Dragging Several Columns Using the Mouse
How to Swap Columns Using Cut and Paste Columns Individually
How to Swap Multiple Columns By Copying, Pasting, and Deleting in Excel
How to Re-arrange Columns with Column Manager
How to Swap Columns in Excel Shortcut