How to Delete Blank Columns in Excel

Empty columns in your Excel spreadsheet can make it look messy and also look unprofessional. Now, whether you are doing a budget analysis, sorting data, or making a report, removing blank columns is a way to make your report professional and cleaner.

Now, if you are new to MS Excel and want to know about the methods to delete blank columns in Microsoft Excel, then in this article, we are going to discuss the methods to remove blank columns in Excel.

How to Remove Blank Columns in Excel

If you have multiple empty columns in Excel, then you can opt two ways to delete blank columns and in this section we are going to discuss both of the methods. Now, go through the section and choose the methods as per your requirement.

Note: The tutorial is for Microsoft Excel 2013. You may find the same or different steps in other Microsoft Excel versions. 

How to Remove Blank Columns Using Manual Selection

We can delete blank columns in Excel using manual selection and deletion. This method works with all types of data but it is time taking, here I would suggest to use this method only when your data is less. If you have a large number of columns to delete then move on to the second method. Now we understand this method with the help of an example. So consider the example

Step 1: Select the Blank Columns

• Select the blank columns, to select the blank columns press Shift and press the down arrow to the row up to where you want to select the column. 

Step 2: Right Click and Select the delete Option

• Then right-click on the selected column. A drop-down will appear (as shown below). Select the Delete button. The selected column will be deleted.

• Repeat the same steps for all the blank columns left in the required worksheet and delete them.

Deleting Blank Columns Using Go To Special

We can also be deleting blank columns in MS Excel using Go To. So follow the following steps:

Step 1: Open the Excel Workbook

• Launch Microsoft Excel and open the workbook containing the worksheet with blank columns you want to delete. Navigate to the specific worksheet where you need to remove blank columns.

Step 2: Select the Data Range and Open Go to Special Dialog Box

• Highlight the range of cells where you want to check for blank columns (e.g., A1:Z100 to cover your data).
• To select the entire worksheet, click the Select All button (top-left corner where row and column headers meet) or press Ctrl+A.
• Tip: Selecting a specific range is faster for large worksheets and reduces the risk of unintended deletions.

Step 3: Access the Go To Special Feature

• Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon, click Find & Select in the Editing group, and choose Go To Special.
• Alternatively, press F5 (or Ctrl+G), then click Special in the Go To dialog box.

Step 4: Verify Blank Columns

• Check the highlighted cells to ensure entire columns are selected (e.g., all cells in a column from top to bottom in your range).
• If only partial cells are highlighted (e.g., scattered blanks in non-blank columns), adjust your range or manually select fully blank columns to avoid deleting data.

Step 5: Delete the Blank Columns

• Right-click any highlighted cell or column header and select Delete.
• In the Delete dialog box, choose Entire column and click OK.
• Alternatively, go to Home > Cells > Delete > Delete Sheet Columns to achieve the same result.
• Excel will remove all columns that were completely blank within the selected range.

Step 6: Review the Worksheet

• Inspect your worksheet to confirm that only blank columns were deleted and no important data was affected.
• Check column headers and adjacent data to ensure the layout remains correct.
• If you made a mistake, press Ctrl+Z to undo the deletion immediately.

Step 7: Save Your Changes

• Save the workbook by pressing Ctrl+S or going to File > Save to preserve your changes.
• Consider saving a backup copy before deleting columns to avoid accidental data loss.

Conclusion

Deleting blank columns in Excel can significantly clean up your data, making it easier to manage and analyze. Using the methods outlined above, you can quickly and efficiently remove unwanted blank columns. Always remember to save a backup of your file before making any changes.