How to reorder position of columns in table in Excel?
When working with Excel tables, you may often find the need to adjust the order of your columns. Whether for improving readability, preparing data for analysis, or meeting formatting requirements, reordering columns can help present data more logically and tailor your spreadsheet to evolving needs. This article provides step-by-step guidance and practical insights for several methods to change the position of columns in an Excel table, including alternative formula and VBA solutions to streamline the process.
Reorder position of columns in table with dragging
Reorder position of columns in table with cutting and pasting
Easily reorder columns in a table with Kutools for Excel
Create a new table by referencing columns in the desired order using formulas
Reorder position of columns in table with dragging
Suppose your Excel table has multiple columns and you'd like to move the Date column before the Name column for improved clarity.
To accomplish this reorder, use the following procedure:
Easily swap two columns at once in a table:
The Column List pane of Kutools for Excel is a fast way to reorder columns in your worksheet, helping you organize data efficiently as shown in the demonstration below.
Download and try it now!
Reorder position of columns in table with cutting and pasting
A frequently-used alternative for reorganizing columns is the cut and paste method. This step-by-step solution works in virtually all Excel versions and is suitable for any range, including data sets not formatted as tables.
1. Select the column you want to move by clicking its header, then right-click and choose the Cut option from the context menu. See the screenshot for reference:
2. Next, select the column before which you want to insert the cut column. Right-click the destination column and select Insert Cut Cells from the menu. See screenshot:
The moved column will now appear in the desired position. This method maintains formulas and cell links and works well for reordering multiple columns one at a time. Be cautious if your table contains merged cells or array formulas—ensure all references update correctly after moving.
Easily reorder columns in a table with Kutools for Excel
If you frequently reorder columns, or if your tables contain many columns, the Column List feature in Kutools for Excel offers quick and flexible options. The tool displays a panel with all table columns for easy rearrangement with simple clicks, benefiting users working with large or dynamic datasets.
1. Go to Kutools > Navigation in Excel’s Ribbon interface.
2. The Kutools Navigation pane will appear on the left. Complete the following:
Kutools for Excel - Supercharge Excel with over 300 essential tools, making your work faster and easier, and take advantage of AI features for smarter data processing and productivity. Get It Now
Create a new table by referencing columns in the desired order using formulas
For users who prefer not to modify the original data or want to present a reordered view of a table in a separate location, Excel formulas provide a simple solution. By referencing columns from the original table in a new worksheet or range, you can display the columns in any arrangement without affecting the source data.
Applicable scenarios: Creating summary reports, customizing data views for sharing, preserving original table integrity.
Advantages: Non-destructive, dynamic updates when source data changes, ideal for dashboards and standardized exports.
Precautions: Cell links are dependent on the original table; deleting source columns will break the reference. For tables with large data ranges, consider using structured references for clarity.
1. Decide where you want to display the reordered table (for instance, starting in cell F1 of a new worksheet). Enter a direct reference formula for each desired column. For example, to place the Date column first, then Name and Amount columns, use:
=[Table1[Date]]=[Table1[Name]]=[Table1[Amount]]Place each formula in its respective header cell of the new table (e.g., F1, G1, H1). If your source table is named Table1, simply type the appropriate structured reference formulas. After entering the formulas, press Enter and drag them down as needed to fill the rows of your table.
For ranges that are not Excel tables, use cell references such as:
=A2=C2=B2Here, enter each formula in your target range’s top row (e.g., F2, G2, H2), then drag the formulas down to copy them for each corresponding row of your dataset.
Tip: This method keeps your data dynamically connected. When you update values in the original table, the new reordered table refreshes automatically. If you want a static view, copy and paste values from the formula results.
Best Office Productivity Tools
Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time. Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...
Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier
- Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
- Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
- Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!
All Kutools add-ins. One installer
Kutools for Office suite bundles add-ins for Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint plus Office Tab Pro, which is ideal for teams working across Office apps.
- All-in-one suite — Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint add-ins + Office Tab Pro
- One installer, one license — set up in minutes (MSI-ready)
- Works better together — streamlined productivity across Office apps
- 30-day full-featured trial — no registration, no credit card
- Best value — save vs buying individual add-in