How to Add Columns or Rows in Google Sheets (In 3 Steps)

Have you ever entered a lot of data into your spreadsheet, only to find that you need to add something between two existing columns or rows?

If yes, then don’t worry…..

Google Sheets lets you add columns or rows on the fly to help you organize and manage your spreadsheet more efficiently.

In this Google Sheets tutorial, you will learn how to add columns and rows anywhere in your Google Sheets (step-by-step).

01. How to Add Columns in Google Sheets?

Let’s say we have this data set and we want to add a new column after Column B

1. Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets and open your desired spreadsheet.

2. Select the header of the column that’s next to where you want your new column.

3. Click Insert option appearing in the top toolbar menu.

4. From the drop down menu, go to Column and select either 1 column left or 1 column right option. Column left will insert a new cloulmn to the left of currently selected column and column right will insert a new column to the right of current column. Since we want a new column after column B, we will select column right in our example.

That’s it… A new column has been inserted after column B in our Google Sheets.

02. How to Insert Columns in Google Sheets by right-clicking?

You can also insert a new column through the right-click context menu. Here are the steps you need to follow for adding a column in google sheets using the context menu:

03. Insert Column Shortcut Google Sheets

What if I tell you there is also a keyboard shortcut to insert column in Google Sheets.

Here is how the google sheets insert column shortcut works:

First of all, you’ll need to select a cell of the column that’s next to where you want your new column. Then press the keyboard shortcuts given below.

Keep in mind that Google Sheets has different keyboard shortcuts for chrome browsers and other browsers. So use shortcuts that are relevant to your browser.

04. How to Add rows in Google Sheets?

Just like columns, adding rows to your spreadsheet is super easy. Here is how:

1. Select a row that’s next to where you want your new row.

2. Click Insert option appearing in the top toolbar menu.

3. From the drop down menu, go to Rows and select either 1 row above or 1 row below option. Row above will insert a new row above the currently selected row and row below will insert a new row below the current row. For example; We have currently selected the row 4 and we want a new row above it, so we will select ‘row above’ option.

That’s it….. a new row has been inserted above row number 4 in our table.

05. How to Insert Rows in Google Sheets by right-clicking?

Similar to columns, you can also insert a new row through the right-click context menu. Here are the exact steps you need to follow for adding rows in Google Sheets using the context menu:

1. Right click on the row that’s either above or below where you want your new row.
2. From the context menu that popup, select Insert 1 above option to insert a new row above the current selected row or select Insert 1 below option to insert a new row below the current row.

06. Insert Row Shortcut Google Sheets

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to quickly insert columns in your spreadsheet. Here is how:

First, select a row (or cell) that’s next to where you want your new row.

Now use the following keyboard shortcuts depending on your web browser:

Want to learn a simple shortcut to insert multiple rows at a time? Follow our guide on how to insert multiple rows in Google Sheets.

07. Over To You:

Whether you use the insert menu, right-click context menu, or keyboard shortcut, adding columns and rows in Google Sheets is a fairly simple process.

Let me know your most convenient way to add columns or rows in Google Sheets…..