How to Insert Multiple Columns in Excel (4 Fast Ways with Shortcuts)

Insert Multiple Columns Quickly in an Excel Worksheet

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated June 26, 2026

Applies to: Microsoft^® Excel^® 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 365 (Windows)

You can quickly insert multiple columns in Excel using a drop-down menu, keyboard shortcuts or the Home tab in the Ribbon. The key to inserting multiple columns at once, rather than one by one, is to select the number of columns you want to insert first and then insert columns. Excel will insert the same number of columns you selected.

Select columns in Excel
Insert multiple columns by right-clicking
Insert multiple columns using a keyboard shortcut
Insert multiple columns using the Ribbon
Insert multiple columns using the Repeat shortcut

Recommended article: How to Lock and Protect Excel Worksheets and Workbooks

Do you want to learn more about Excel? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person Excel courses >

Select columns in Excel

It's important to be able to quickly select columns in Excel so you can insert multiple columns.

To select one or more columns in Excel:

To select column row, click its heading or select a cell in the row and press Ctrl + Spacebar.
If an entire column is selected, you can keep pressing Shift + right or left arrow to select more columns.
To select multiple contiguous columns, drag over the column headings using a mouse or select the first column heading and then Shift-click the last column heading.

In order to easily insert multiple columns, be sure to select entire columns first.

Insert multiple columns by right-clicking

To insert multiple columns in Excel by right-clicking and using the drop-down menu:

Select multiple columns on the worksheet by dragging over the column headings or click the first column heading and Shift-click the last column heading.
Right-click one of the selected columns and select Insert from the drop-down menu. Excel will insert the same number of columns you selected.

Below is the context menu that appears when you right-click a selected column or columns:

You can also access the context menu by press Shift + F10 or by pressing the Context key on the bottom of your keyboard (if you have it).

Insert multiple columns using a keyboard shortcut

To insert multiple columns in Excel using a keyboard shortcut:

Select multiple columns on the worksheet by dragging over the column headings or click the first column heading and Shift-click the last column heading.
Press Ctrl + Shift + equal sign (this is the same key as +) at the top of the keyboard. Excel will insert the same number of rows you selected.

Insert multiple columns using the Ribbon

To insert multiple columns in Excel using the Ribbon:

Select multiple columns on the worksheet by dragging over the row headings or click the first column heading and Shift-click the last column heading.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Click Insert in the Cells group. A drop-down menu appears.
Select Insert Sheet Columns. Excel will insert the same number of columns you selected.

The Insert command appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon:

Insert multiple columns using the Repeat shortcut

If you insert a column or columns and then you want to repeat or redo the last action, press Ctrl + Y. For example, you would insert one or more columns and then press Ctrl + Y.

Subscribe to get more articles like this one

Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, JOIN our email list.

More resources

How to Lock Cells in Excel (3 Ways)

How to Merge Cells in Excel (with Shortcuts)

How to Remove Duplicates in Excel (3 Easy Ways)

How to Use Flash Fill in Excel (4 Ways with Shortcuts)

How to Insert Multiple Rows in Excel (4 Fast Ways with Shortcuts)

Related courses

Microsoft Excel: Introduction

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Excel: Data Analysis with Functions, Dashboards and What-If Analysis Tools

Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Power Query to Get and Transform Data

Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Power Pivot and Data Models

Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Dynamic Arrays and Next-Generation Excel Functions

Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

VIEW MORE COURSES >

Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.

What is Power Query in Excel?

Power Query in Excel is a powerful data transformation tool that allows you to import data from many different sources and then extract, clean, and transform the data. You will then be able to load the data into Excel or Power BI and perform further data analysis. With Power Query (also known as Get & Transform), you can set up a query once and then refresh it when new data is added. Power Query can import and clean millions of rows of data.

How to Stop or Control Green Error Checking Markers in Excel

In Microsoft Excel, errors are flagged with small green marker or triangle in the upper left corner of the cell. However, these indicators display when there may be an error but is, in fact, not an error.

How to Use Flash Fill in Excel (4 Ways with Shortcuts)

You can use Flash Fill in Excel to extract, combine, clean or format data quickly without using formulas. In order to use Flash Fill, Excel must be able to understand a pattern in a column to the left of the column where you want to fill the data so the source data should be entered in a consistent way. You can use Flash Fill by clicking a button, using shortcuts or by using the Fill handle. You run Flash Fill by entering an example of the data you want to fill using a "by example" logic.

How to Insert Multiple Columns in Excel (4 Fast Ways with Shortcuts)

Insert Multiple Columns Quickly in an Excel Worksheet