How to insert rows in Excel to keep or expand merged cells?

When inserting a new row in Excel, you may want to either expand an existing merged cell to include the new row or insert the row above the merged cell without affecting it. This tutorial covers both methods: inserting a row within a merged range to expand it or inserting a row above without merging. Follow the steps below to use either approach based on your needs.

Insert a new row within merged cells to expand the merge

Insert a new row above merged cells without expanding

OR

Insert a new row within merged cells to expand the merge

To insert new rows and expand the merged cells, right-click on the second row in the merged range and choose Insert from the context menu. See screenshot:

Note: If the merged cells span row 5 and row 6, right-click on row 6.

The new row is inserted, expanding the merged range.

Insert a new row above merged cells without expanding

If you want to insert a new row without merging, click on the first row in the merged range and choose Insert from the context menu. See screenshot:

The row is inserted above the merged cell without expanding the merged range.