Excel Shortcut Cheat Sheet PDF: Boost Your Productivity with These Handy Tips

Fundamentals of Excel Shortcuts

Excel is a powerful tool that can help you manage and analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. However, navigating through Excel’s menus and options can be time-consuming. That’s where keyboard shortcuts come in handy. By using Excel shortcuts, you can save time and increase your productivity.

Excel shortcuts are combinations of keys that perform a specific function. For example, pressing Ctrl+C will copy the selected cells, while Ctrl+V will paste them. There are shortcuts for almost every function in Excel, from formatting cells to creating charts.

To use Excel shortcuts effectively, you need to know the most common ones. Here are some of the most important Excel keyboard shortcuts:

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl+C	Copy
Ctrl+V	Paste
Ctrl+X	Cut
Ctrl+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Y	Redo
Ctrl+B	Bold
Ctrl+U	Underline
Ctrl+I	Italic

Learning these shortcuts will help you work faster and more efficiently in Excel. However, there are many more shortcuts to discover. You can find a comprehensive list of Excel shortcuts in a cheat sheet, which you can download as a PDF for easy reference.

Using Excel shortcuts can be a game-changer for your productivity. Once you start using them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them. So why not give them a try and see how much time you can save?

Navigating Excel

Navigating through Excel can be a time-consuming task, especially if you are not familiar with the software. However, with the help of keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly move around the Excel interface and save time. Here are some tips on navigating Excel:

Ribbon Navigation

The ribbon is the main toolbar in Excel, and it contains all the commands you need to work with your spreadsheet. To navigate the ribbon, you can use the following shortcuts:

• Alt: This displays the keyboard shortcuts for each tab on the ribbon.
• Alt + H: This displays the Home tab.
• Alt + N: This displays the Insert tab.
• Alt + P: This displays the Page Layout tab.
• Alt + M: This displays the Formulas tab.
• Alt + A: This displays the Data tab.
• Alt + R: This displays the Review tab.
• Alt + W: This displays the View tab.

Display Navigation

Excel offers several ways to view your data, including Normal view, Page Layout view, and Page Break Preview. To switch between these views, you can use the following shortcuts:

• Ctrl + F2: This displays the Print Preview.
• Alt + W + I: This displays the Page Layout view.
• Alt + W + N: This displays the Normal view.
• Alt + W + B: This displays the Page Break Preview.

Arrow Keys Navigation

The arrow keys are a quick and easy way to move around your spreadsheet. Here are some shortcuts:

• Up Arrow: Move up one cell.
• Down Arrow: Move down one cell.
• Left Arrow: Move left one cell.
• Right Arrow: Move right one cell.
• Ctrl + Arrow Key: Move to the last cell in the direction of the arrow key.
• Shift + Arrow Key: Select cells in the direction of the arrow key.

Table Navigation

Tables are a powerful tool in Excel, and they allow you to organize and analyze your data. Here are some shortcuts for navigating tables:

• Tab: Move to the next cell in the table.
• Shift + Tab: Move to the previous cell in the table.
• Ctrl + Home: Move to the first cell in the table.
• Ctrl + End: Move to the last cell in the table.
• Ctrl + Shift + *: Select the entire table.

Keyboard Shortcuts Table

Here is a table of some essential Excel keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate your spreadsheet:

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl + Home	Move to the first cell in the worksheet.
Ctrl + End	Move to the last cell in the worksheet.
Ctrl + Arrow Key	Move to the last cell in the direction of the arrow key.
Shift + Arrow Key	Select cells in the direction of the arrow key.
Ctrl + Shift + *	Select the entire table.
Alt + H + O + R	Hide rows.
Alt + H + O + C	Hide columns.
Ctrl + Shift + L	Apply filters.
Ctrl + Shift + $	Apply currency format.
Ctrl + Shift + #	Apply date format.
Ctrl + Shift + %	Apply percentage format.
Ctrl + Shift + ^	Apply scientific format.
Ctrl + Shift + @	Apply time format.
Ctrl + Shift + !	Apply number format.

By using these shortcuts, you can navigate Excel more efficiently and save time.

Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel shortcuts can save you a lot of time and effort when working with spreadsheets. Here are some of the most commonly used Excel shortcut keys that you should know:

Shortcut Key	Function
Ctrl + A	Select all
Ctrl + S	Save
F11	Create a chart
Ctrl + B	Bold
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + F	Find
Ctrl + I	Italic
Ctrl + P	Print
Ctrl + U	Underline
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + Z	Undo
F7	Spell check
Ctrl + D	Fill down
Ctrl + G	Go to
Ctrl + H	Replace
Ctrl + K	Insert hyperlink
Ctrl + N	New workbook
Ctrl + O	Open workbook
Ctrl + W	Close workbook

Use these shortcuts to perform common tasks quickly and efficiently. For example, if you want to select all the cells in your spreadsheet, press Ctrl + A. If you want to save your work, press Ctrl + S.

You can also use shortcuts to format your spreadsheet. For example, press Ctrl + B to make text bold, or Ctrl + I to make it italic. To underline text, press Ctrl + U.

Shortcuts can also help you navigate your spreadsheet more easily. Use Ctrl + G to go to a specific cell, or Ctrl + F to find a specific value or text string.

In addition to these common shortcuts, there are many more that you can use in Excel. Take some time to learn them and you’ll be able to work more quickly and efficiently in Excel.

Working with Cells and Ranges

When working with Excel, it is essential to know how to work with cells and ranges. Cells are the individual boxes in which you enter data, and ranges are groups of cells. Here are some essential Excel shortcuts that will help you work with cells and ranges more efficiently:

Moving around cells and ranges

• Use the arrow keys to move around cells and ranges.
• To move to the next cell, press the Enter key.
• To move to the previous cell, press Shift + Enter.
• To move to the last cell in the current row, press End and then press the right arrow key.
• To move to the first cell in the current row, press Home and then press the left arrow key.
• To move to the last cell in the current column, press Ctrl + End.
• To move to the first cell in the current column, press Ctrl + Home.

Selecting cells and ranges

• To select a single cell, click on it.
• To select a range of cells, click and hold on the first cell, drag to the last cell, and release the mouse button.
• To select all cells in a worksheet, press Ctrl + A.
• To select an entire row, click on the row number.
• To select an entire column, click on the column letter.

Editing cells

• To edit a cell, double-click on it.
• To delete a cell, select it and press the Delete key.
• To insert a new cell, select a cell and press Ctrl + Shift + “+”.
• To insert a new row, right-click on the row number and select “Insert.”
• To insert a new column, right-click on the column letter and select “Insert.”

Table

Action	Shortcut
Move to next cell	Enter
Move to previous cell	Shift + Enter
Move to last cell in current row	End + right arrow key
Move to first cell in current row	Home + left arrow key
Move to last cell in current column	Ctrl + End
Move to first cell in current column	Ctrl + Home
Select all cells in worksheet	Ctrl + A
Select entire row	Click on row number
Select entire column	Click on column letter
Edit cell	Double-click on cell
Delete cell	Select cell and press Delete
Insert new cell	Select cell and press Ctrl + Shift + “+”
Insert new row	Right-click on row number and select “Insert”
Insert new column	Right-click on column letter and select “Insert”

Excel Functions and Formulas

When it comes to working with Excel, functions and formulas are essential tools that can save you a lot of time and effort. There are a wide variety of functions and formulas available in Excel, each designed to perform a specific task. In this section, we’ll cover some of the most common and useful functions and formulas that you can use to make your work easier.

Inserting Functions

To insert a function in Excel, you can use the “Insert Function” feature. This feature allows you to search for a specific function or browse through categories of functions. Once you’ve found the function you need, you can enter the arguments (inputs) for the function.

Basic Functions

Here are some of the most commonly used basic functions in Excel:

• IF: This function allows you to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if it is false.

• SUM: This function adds up a range of values.

• MIN: This function returns the smallest value in a range.

• MAX: This function returns the largest value in a range.

• COUNT: This function counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers.

• AVERAGE: This function calculates the average of a range of values.

Text Functions

Excel also has a variety of text functions that can be used to manipulate text strings. Here are a few examples:

• PROPER: This function capitalizes the first letter of each word in a text string.

• LEN: This function returns the length of a text string.

Advanced Functions

Excel also has a variety of advanced functions that can be used for more complex tasks. Here are a few examples:

• VLOOKUP: This function searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.

• SUMIF: This function adds up a range of values based on a specified condition.

• COUNTIF: This function counts the number of cells in a range that meet a specified condition.

Table

Here is a table summarizing some of the most commonly used functions in Excel:

Function	Description
IF	Tests a condition and returns one value if the condition is true and another value if it is false.
SUM	Adds up a range of values.
MIN	Returns the smallest value in a range.
MAX	Returns the largest value in a range.
COUNT	Counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers.
AVERAGE	Calculates the average of a range of values.
PROPER	Capitalizes the first letter of each word in a text string.
LEN	Returns the length of a text string.
VLOOKUP	Searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.
SUMIF	Adds up a range of values based on a specified condition.
COUNTIF	Counts the number of cells in a range that meet a specified condition.

Overall, functions and formulas are powerful tools that can help you work more efficiently in Excel. By mastering the basics and exploring more advanced functions, you can become a true Excel expert.

Data Manipulation in Excel

Excel is a powerful tool for data manipulation, and knowing the right shortcuts can save you a lot of time and effort. Here are some essential shortcuts for manipulating data in Excel:

• Copy and paste: To copy a cell or range of cells, select them and press Ctrl + C. To paste the copied data, select the destination cell or range of cells and press Ctrl + V. You can also use the right-click menu to copy and paste.

• Cut and paste: To cut a cell or range of cells, select them and press Ctrl + X. To paste the cut data, select the destination cell or range of cells and press Ctrl + V. You can also use the right-click menu to cut and paste.

• Delete: To delete a cell or range of cells, select them and press the Delete key. You can also use the right-click menu to delete.

• Paste special: To paste data with specific formatting or values, use the Ctrl + Alt + V shortcut to open the Paste Special dialog box. From there, you can choose the type of paste you want, such as values, formatting, or formulas.

• Ctrl + arrow keys: To quickly navigate through large sets of data, use the Ctrl + arrow key combination. For example, Ctrl + Down arrow will take you to the last row of data in a column, while Ctrl + Right arrow will take you to the last column of data in a row.

Table: Excel Data Manipulation Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + X	Cut
Delete	Delete
Ctrl + Alt + V	Paste Special
Ctrl + arrow keys	Navigate data

By mastering these shortcuts, you can quickly manipulate data in Excel and save yourself a lot of time and effort.

Formatting in Excel

When it comes to formatting in Excel, there are a variety of options available to you. These options can help you to make your data more visually appealing, easier to read, and more professional-looking. Here are some of the most commonly used formatting options in Excel:

Bold, Italic, and Underline

Bold, italic, and underline are all basic formatting options that you can use to emphasize certain words or phrases in your data. To apply any of these formatting options, simply select the text that you want to format and then click on the appropriate button in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab.

Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is a powerful tool that allows you to automatically format cells based on certain criteria. For example, you could use conditional formatting to highlight all cells that contain a value greater than 100. To apply conditional formatting, select the cells that you want to format and then click on “Conditional Formatting” in the “Styles” section of the “Home” tab.

Cell Style

Cell styles are pre-defined formatting options that you can apply to your data with just a few clicks. Excel comes with a variety of built-in cell styles, such as “Bad”, “Good”, and “Neutral”, but you can also create your own custom cell styles. To apply a cell style, select the cells that you want to format and then click on “Cell Styles” in the “Styles” section of the “Home” tab.

Currency Format

If you’re working with financial data, you’ll likely want to use the currency format to display your numbers. To apply the currency format, select the cells that you want to format and then click on the “Currency” button in the “Number” section of the “Home” tab.

Format Painter

The format painter is a handy tool that allows you to quickly copy formatting from one cell to another. To use the format painter, select the cell that contains the formatting that you want to copy and then click on the “Format Painter” button in the “Clipboard” section of the “Home” tab. Then, click on the cell that you want to apply the formatting to.

Formatting Option	How to Apply
Bold, Italic, Underline	Select text and click on appropriate button in “Font” section of “Home” tab
Conditional Formatting	Select cells and click on “Conditional Formatting” in “Styles” section of “Home” tab
Cell Style	Select cells and click on “Cell Styles” in “Styles” section of “Home” tab
Currency Format	Select cells and click on “Currency” button in “Number” section of “Home” tab
Format Painter	Select cell with formatting to copy and click on “Format Painter” button in “Clipboard” section of “Home” tab, then click on cell to apply formatting to

Overall, formatting is an essential tool for making your Excel data more visually appealing and easier to read. With the options available to you, you can customize your data to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Excel Worksheet Operations

To become an efficient user of Excel, you need to know how to perform basic worksheet operations. These operations include saving, printing, previewing, saving as, and closing. In this section, we will discuss each operation briefly.

Saving

Saving your Excel worksheet is a crucial operation that ensures your work is not lost in case of unexpected power outages or system crashes. To save your worksheet, you can use the Ctrl + S shortcut or click on the “Save” icon located on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Printing

Printing your worksheet is essential if you need a hard copy of your work. You can print your worksheet by clicking on the “File” tab and selecting “Print.” This will open the print dialog box, where you can select your printer and adjust the print settings.

Print Preview

Before printing your worksheet, you can preview it to ensure that it will print as intended. To preview your worksheet, click on the “File” tab and select “Print Preview.” This will show you how your worksheet will look when printed.

Saving As

If you need to save a copy of your worksheet with a different name or in a different location, you can use the “Save As” function. To do this, click on the “File” tab and select “Save As.” This will open the Save As dialog box, where you can choose the file name and location.

Close

Closing your worksheet is necessary when you are finished working on it. To close your worksheet, click on the “File” tab and select “Close.” You can also use the Ctrl + W shortcut to close your worksheet quickly.

Table

Here is a table summarizing the Excel worksheet operations we discussed above:

Operation	Shortcut	Location
Save	Ctrl + S	Quick Access Toolbar
Print		File Tab
Print Preview		File Tab
Save As		File Tab
Close	Ctrl + W	File Tab

Additional Excel Features

In addition to the basic Excel shortcuts, there are several other features that can make your work in Excel more efficient. Here are some of the additional features you may find useful:

Value and Now Functions

The VALUE function is used to convert text that represents a number to a numeric value in Excel. This can be useful if you have imported data from another program and need to convert text to numbers. The NOW function, on the other hand, returns the current date and time in a cell.

F2, F4, and F5

The F2 key is used to edit the contents of a cell. Pressing F4 will repeat the last action you performed, which can be useful when you need to apply the same formatting or formula to multiple cells. F5 opens the Go To dialog box, which allows you to quickly navigate to a specific cell or range.

Undo and Redo

Excel has an undo feature that allows you to reverse your last action. You can press Ctrl+Z to undo your last action. To redo an action that you have undone, press Ctrl+Y.

Options and Calculation

Excel has a variety of options that you can customize to suit your needs. To access the Excel Options dialog box, click on the File tab and select Options. The Calculation Options section allows you to control how Excel calculates formulas.

Grid, Numbers, and Text

You can customize the appearance of the gridlines in Excel by going to the View tab and selecting Gridlines. The Number Format feature allows you to format numbers in a variety of ways, such as adding decimal places or currency symbols. The Text to Columns feature allows you to split text into separate columns based on a delimiter.

VBA and General

Excel has a powerful programming language called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) that allows you to automate tasks and create custom functions. You can access the VBA editor by pressing Alt+F11. The General Options section in the Excel Options dialog box allows you to customize various settings, such as the default font and the default file location.

Move Right, Move Down, Alt + =, Alt + Enter, Sparklines

In addition to the arrow keys, you can use the Tab key to move to the right and the Enter key to move down in a worksheet. Alt+= is a shortcut for the SUM function, which adds up the values in a range of cells. Alt+Enter allows you to add a line break within a cell. Sparklines are small charts that can be used to show trends and patterns in a worksheet.

Feature	Shortcut
Edit cell	F2
Repeat last action	F4
Go to dialog box	F5
Undo	Ctrl+Z
Redo	Ctrl+Y
Excel Options	File > Options
Calculation Options	Excel Options > Formulas
Gridlines	View > Gridlines
Number Format	Home > Number
Text to Columns	Data > Text to Columns
VBA editor	Alt+F11
General Options	Excel Options > General
Move right	Tab
Move down	Enter
SUM function	Alt+=
Line break in cell	Alt+Enter
Sparklines	Insert > Sparklines