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How to Delete Pivot Tables in Google Sheets and Excel

May 8, 2024

Let’s say you just realized that the Pivot Table you have created is no longer useful, and you now want to remove it... How can you do so? 

This quick tutorial will help you delete that Pivot Table you no longer need, both in Google Sheets and Excel. 

Deleting a Pivot Table in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, you can insert the Pivot Table together with its source sheet or to a new sheet. 

Method 1: If your Pivot Table is in its own separate sheet, you can simply delete that sheet to get rid of the Pivot Table.

The drop-down menu appears when you right-click on the Pivot Table in Google Sheets. Highlighted is the Delete option, the first option.
The drop-down menu appears when you right-click on the Pivot Table in Google Sheets. Highlighted is the Delete option, the first option. 

Yes, it’s that simple.

Method 2: If you have added the Pivot Table in a Sheet with important data, you can remove the Pivot Table by clicking on its upper-leftmost cell, then pressing Delete on your keyboard.

The upper-leftmost cell of the Pivot Table highlighted. This is what you have to delete to delete the entire Pivot Table when pressing the Delete button on your keyboard.
The upper-leftmost cell of the Pivot Table highlighted. This is what you have to delete to delete the entire Pivot Table when pressing the Delete button on your keyboard. 


You can do the same technique if you don’t want to remove the sheet where the Pivot Table is located, as in Method 1. You would notice, however, that the gridlines that we are used to seeing in our sheets is still missing. To add them back, click View on the main toolbar then click Gridlines. 

View option on the main menu, drop-down box. Gridlines highlighted. Clicking the Gridlines option returns the familiar gridlines in your sheet.
View option on the main menu, drop-down box. Gridlines highlighted. Clicking the Gridlines option returns the familiar gridlines in your sheet. 

Deleting a PivotTable in Excel

Deleting a PivotTable in Excel requires an extra step. Click on any cell inside the PivotTable, then press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac), then press Delete on your keyboard. Now the PivotTable is gone. 

The PivotTable in Excel highlighted.
The PivotTable in Excel highlighted. 

If Ctrl+A won’t work, you can click the Analyze tab in the toolbar above, then click Select, then click Entire PivotTable.

PivotTable Tools, Analyze tab, Select option selected, Entire PivotTable highlighted.
PivotTable Tools, Analyze tab, Select option selected, Entire PivotTable highlighted. 


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