How to delete data in Excel

In this lesson, we'll look at several ways to delete data in a worksheet. The most common way to remove data is to use the delete key, or, to use the Clear button on the ribbon. However, you can also remove data by deleting columns, rows, or cells.

Let's take a look.

One way to remove data in Excel is to use the Clear button on the home ribbon. Choose "Clear Contents" to clear just the contents.

Choose "Clear All" to clear both the contents and the formatting.

A faster way to clear content is to use the delete key. Just select the cells you'd like to delete, then press the delete key.

Notice that deleting cells this way removes the data but not the formatting. If you also want to remove the formatting, use "Clear all" in the Clear menu on the home ribbon.

Another easy way to remove data in a worksheet is to delete entire columns or rows. Just select the columns or rows that contain the data you'd like to remove, and delete, using one of the methods covered in an earlier lesson.

This method will completely remove all data and formatting, and it can be a good way to quickly tidy up a worksheet.

Finally, you can right-click and choose Delete from the context menu. Then choose an appropriate option in the Delete dialog box that appears.

As always when deleting rows or columns, be careful not to delete other data that may exist elsewhere in the worksheet.