How to Delete Columns in Google Sheets [Easiest Way in 2023]
In this article we will show you how to delete columns in Google Sheets in just a few simple clicks. Just follow the steps below.
How to Delete a Column in Google Sheets
This method is simple and will delete unwanted columns in a data set. We can also choose to remove extra columns if required.
For the purpose of this demonstration an example data set has been created, click here to access the spreadsheet and follow along at home.
In our example data set we have three columns containing food items, an old price and a new price. In this example we will delete the old price column.
1. Right click the letter of the column you want to delete
At the top of the display right click the letter of the column you want to delete, this will display the right click menu.
In our example we want to delete column D containing the Old Price data therefore we have right clicked on the D at the top of the column.
2. Select “Delete Column” from the menu
From the right click menu click the option for Delete column.
3. The column is now deleted and data on the right hand side moves to the left
The column has now been deleted. Any column containing data to the right of the removed column will now shift to the left and join the rest of the data.
As can be seen in our example, the Old Price column was removed, the column containing New Price has shifted and adjusted to become column D and is now next to the Item data.
How to use the Delete Column Shortcut in Google Sheets
We can utilize a keyboard shortcut to delete a column in Google Sheets, but the right click, delete method is slightly more efficient.
The keyboard shortcut is achieved by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl, Shift and - keys (Cmd ⌘, Option and - on Mac) with the columns selected. See the example of how to use this below.
1. Select the column to delete
Click on the column letter of the column to delete at the top of the display to select it.
In our example we will delete the column containing the data for Old Price therefore we will click the letter of column D.
2. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the Ctrl, Shift and - keys (Cmd ⌘, Option ⌥ and - on Mac) at the same time.
With the column selected enter the keyboard shortcut for deleting columns. This is achieved by pressing Ctrl, Shift and - on Windows and Cmd ⌘, Option ⌥ and - on Mac systems. The three keys need to be pressed at the same time.
3. The column is deleted, Click outside of the highlighted column to see the results
Once the keyboard shortcut is pressed the selected column will be deleted and any columns to the right of the removed column will shift to the left to join the other data. The column will remain highlighted.
Click outside of the highlighted column to remove the highlight and see the results.
As can be seen in our example the column was removed and the data in Column E has shifted left into column D to join the rest of the data.
How to Delete Multiple Columns in Google Sheets
Multiple columns can be deleted at the same time, in this example we will demonstrate how to select multiple columns and delete them.
1. Select the columns you want to delete
Highlight the columns you want to delete, this can be achieved by clicking and dragging across the column letters that are next to each other.
For columns that are separate press and hold the Ctrl key (Cmd ⌘ on Mac) while clicking the individual column letters.
In our example we will select two columns that are separate from each other, one is the column containing the Item data and the other contains the New Price data.
2. Right click on one of the highlighted columns to display the menu and select “Delete selected columns”
From anywhere in the highlighted area right click to display the menu. Click Delete selected columns from this menu.
Alternatively you can use the delete column keyboard shortcut at this step, press Ctrl, Shift and - on Windows (Cmd ⌘, Option ⌥ and - on Mac) at the same time.
In our example we are using the right click menu method.
3. The columns are deleted and any remaining columns are shifted to the left
The selected columns are now deleted, any remaining data is shifted to the left.
As can be seen in our example the columns containing the Item and New price data have been deleted and the remaining column has shifted left into column C.
