Insert Multiple Rows Quickly in an Excel Worksheet
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 15, 2023
Applies to: Microsoft® Excel® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)
You can quickly insert multiple rows in Excel using a drop-down menu, keyboard shortcuts or the Home tab in the Ribbon. The key to inserting multiple rows at once, rather than one by one, is to select the number of rows you want to insert first and then insert rows. Excel will insert the same number of rows you selected.
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In this article, we'll review 4 ways to insert multiple rows:
- Insert multiple rows by right-clicking
- Insert multiple rows using a keyboard shortcut
- Insert multiple rows using the Ribbon
- Insert multiple rows using the Repeat shortcut
It's important to be able to quickly select rows in Excel so you can insert multiple rows.
To select one or more rows in Excel:
- To select one row, click its heading or select a cell in the row and press Shift + Spacebar.
- If an entire row is selected, you can keep pressing Shift + down arrow to select more rows.
- To select multiple contiguous rows, drag over the row headings using a mouse or select the first row heading and then Shift-click the last row heading.
In order to easily insert multiple rows, be sure to select entire rows first.
1. Insert multiple rows by right-clicking
To insert multiple rows in Excel by right-clicking and using the drop-down menu:
- Select multiple rows on the worksheet by dragging over the row headings or click the first row heading and Shift-click the last row heading.
- Right-click one of the selected rows and select Insert from the drop-down menu. Excel will insert the same number of rows you selected.
Below is the context menu that appears when you right-click a selected row or rows:
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).
2. Insert multiple rows using a keyboard shortcut
To insert multiple rows in Excel using a keyboard shortcut:
- Select multiple rows on the worksheet by dragging over the row headings or click the first row heading and Shift-click the last row 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.
3. Insert multiple rows using the Ribbon
To insert multiple rows in Excel using the Ribbon:
- Select multiple rows on the worksheet by dragging over the row headings or click the first row heading and Shift-click the last row heading.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- Click Insert in the Cells group. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Insert Sheet Rows. Excel will insert the same number of rows you selected.
The Insert command appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon:
4. Insert multiple rows using the Repeat shortcut
If you insert a row or rows and then you want to repeat or redo the last action, press Ctrl + Y. For example, you would insert one or more rows and then press Ctrl + Y.
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More resources
How to Merge Cells in Excel (with Shortcuts)
How to Use Flash Fill in Excel (4 Ways with Shortcuts)
How to Hide or Unhide Excel Worksheets (and Unhide All Sheets)
How to Insert Multiple Columns in Excel (4 Fast Ways with Shortcuts)
How to Highlight Errors, Blanks and Duplicates in Excel Worksheets (Using Formulas)
Related courses
Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft Excel: Data Analysis with Functions, Dashboards and What-If Analysis Tools
Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
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