Ultimate Guide to the Best Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Here’s my one-page guide to Excel keyboard shortcuts. These commands help you save time with navigation, formatting, and complex calculations. I’m also including a printable PDF that contains all the most popular keyboard shortcuts in Excel.

The Best Excel Keyboard Shortcuts: Full List

Excel Shortcuts Explained

Although there are plenty of Excel shortcuts, not all will go hand in hand with your workflow. That’s why I’ve taken the time to organize the best keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Excel for you in 2026. We have grouped them into a specific category list below, so it should be easier for you to understand the mode of operation for each.

Cell Formatting Shortcut Keys

These shortcuts are used for formatting cells as quickly as possible in Microsoft Excel. They help you change the cell’s appearance, including text fonts, size, and borders.

There are plenty of Excel formatting shortcuts. Here are the most popular Excel shortcuts for cell formatting:

1. Ctrl + B (Bold)

Press Ctrl + B to convert text in the active cell to Bold text.

2. Ctrl + I (Italic)

With this keyboard shortcut, you can convert text in the active cell to Italic text.

3. Ctrl + U (Underline)

This keyboard shortcut lets you add an underline in the value in the active cell.

4. Ctrl + 5 (Strike-through)

This keyboard shortcut lets you add a strike-through in the value in the active cell. You can also undo it using the same Ctrl combination.

5. Ctrl + Shift + 7 (Apply borders)

This keyboard shortcut lets you apply a border around the cells you have selected. It’s faster than going to the borders menu in the Excel ribbon.

6. Ctrl + A (Select multiple cells)

This Excel shortcut lets you select multiple cells in your worksheet. If you have data in your cells, it will select the current region (all adjacent cells with data). If otherwise, the shortcut will select the entire worksheet.

7. Ctrl + Shift + F (Font format dialog box)

This shortcut opens the font formatting dialog box. The fonts chosen will be applied to the cells with the selected data.

8. Ctrl + 1 (Format cells dialog box)

This combination of keys opens up the Format Cells dialog box in Excel. This differs from the font formatting dialog box since it formats the cell contents and values rather than just the style.

Navigation Excel Shortcuts

Navigation Excel shortcuts are key combinations designed to help you move around the Excel worksheet. They navigate through the cells, menus, and documents without a mouse. Some of them also open dialog boxes that let you perform certain functions. They include:

1. Arrow Keys (Move within cells)

The arrow keys let you move one cell toward the arrow. For example, the up arrow key will move one cell up to an adjacent cell.

2. Ctrl + Arrow Keys (Move rows or columns)

Combining the arrow keys with the Ctrl key lets you move to rows or columns at the edge of your data region and worksheet. For example, the Ctrl + Down arrow keys will move to the last used cell of your data. If you press it a second time, it will go to the last row of the entire worksheet.

3. Ctrl + Page Up/ Page Down (Move between worksheets)

This keyboard shortcut lets you move between the different sheet tabs in Excel.

4. Shift / Ctrl + Space (Select rows and columns)

The shortcut Ctrl + Space lets you highlight the selected columns of the active cell, while Shift + Space lets you highlight the selected rows.

5. Ctrl + G (Go to cell)

This shortcut opens the GoTo dialog box to enter a specific cell or range.

6. Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key (Extend selection)

Using these shortcut keys, you can extend your selection toward the arrow. For example, using the right arrow, you’ll select one more cell or row to the right within the data set.

Workbook Excel Shortcuts

Workbook shortcuts are specific shortcut keys that are used in Microsoft Excel to perform functions related to managing the workbook. They allow you to navigate and manage different aspects of your workbook more efficiently. These shortcuts include:

1. Ctrl + Shift + + (Insert cells, rows, or columns)

This opens a dialog box that has options for the direction where you want to shift the selected cells or entire row. You can shift either up or down by one cell or row. You can also shift an entire column or have an entire row shifted. This is mainly used to add one row or column for a current entry.

2. Ctrl + – (Delete cells, rows, or columns)

This shortcut key opens the delete dialog box with options to delete the selected cells, a row, or a column. You can shift either up or down by one cell to delete the top or bottom cell.

3. Ctrl + L / T (Create a table)

If you click on a cell in your data and use this shortcut, it will select your entire data and open a dialog box for creating a table. This is a quick way to create tables in your worksheet.

4. Ctrl + O (Switch between open workbooks)

This shortcut lets you switch between the Excel workbooks that are currently open on your device.

5. Shift + F11 (Insert new workbook)

This shortcut lets you open a new Excel workbook tab.

6. Ctrl + W (Close current workbook)

This shortcut lets you close (exit) the current Excel workbook that you are in.

7. Ctrl + F (Find)

This Excel keyboard shortcut opens the Find dialog box to search for values in your worksheet.

8. Ctrl + H (Replace)

Opens the Replace dialog box to search for and replace values in your worksheet with the value of your choice.

Editing and Data Managing Shortcut Keys

Editing Excel shortcuts can sometimes be confused with cell formatting shortcuts, but there’s a difference. These shortcuts let you manipulate data and content in your workbook without using a mouse. They include:

1. Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V (Copy and paste)

These Excel shortcuts are popular in other programs. Ctrl + C is used for copying, and Ctrl + V is used for pasting.

2. Ctrl + Alt + V (Paste Special)

This keyboard shortcut is used for Paste Special. It removes the copied value’s format and pastes the value in the format of the cell.

3. Ctrl + D (Fill cells downwards)

This shortcut copies the values in the selected cells and puts them into the cells below.

4. Ctrl + R (Fill cells right)

This shortcut copies the values in the selected cells and puts them into the cells to the right in the adjacent columns.

5. Ctrl + K (Insert hyperlink)

This shortcut lets you insert a hyperlink into a cell by opening the hyperlink dialog box.

6. Ctrl + Shift + L (Insert filters)

With this combination, you can insert and remove the filter toggles in your data. First, you’ll need to select your data, and the filters will be added automatically to the top or header row.

7. Alt + Enter (New Line)

To start a new line of text inside the same cell, press Alt + Enter while typing.

8. Backspace vs Delete

Note that Backspace clears the content and enters editing mode, while Delete removes the content but keeps you in selection mode.

Number Formatting Excel Shortcuts

The number formatting Excel shortcuts in Excel are helpful when applying specific number formats to a cell. They let you change the format of the numbers by adding decimal points or changing to date and time format. They include the following:

1. Ctrl + Shift + 1 (Apply two decimal format)

This converts the values to number format and adds two decimal places.

2. Ctrl + Shift + 2 (Apply time format)

These shortcut keys convert number values in a cell-to-time format using the AM/PM system.

3. Ctrl + Shift + 3 (Apply date format)

This shortcut converts number values into a cell-to-date format. The dates are displayed in the default date format.

4. Ctrl + Shift + 4 (Apply currency format)

This shortcut key converts number values in a cell to currency format and adds the dollar sign ($). It also displays two decimal points.

5. Ctrl + Shift + 5 (Apply percentage format)

This shortcut converts number values in a cell to percentages. One thing to note is that this shortcut does this by multiplying the values with 100 and adding the percentage symbol (%).

6. Ctrl + Shift + 6 (Scientific notation)

This shortcut lets you apply or remove the scientific notation format to the selected cells.

7. Ctrl + Shift + 7 (General format)

With this shortcut, you can change the format of numerical values in your cells to the general format. The General format is the default number format used in Excel.

Formula and Function Excel Shortcuts

Formula shortcuts in Excel help you work faster with formulas, array functions, and complex calculations. They let you enter, edit, and manage your formulas.

The best formula and function shortcuts include the following:

1. Shift + F3 (Opens the insert function dialog box)

This opens the Insert Formula dialog box that lets you add simple functions to your data quickly. You can also search for a function in the dialog box.

2. F4 (Toggle for absolute and relative references)

Using F4 in your formula after a cell reference or range lets you change it between absolute and relative referencing. This adds the dollar sign ($) to your reference to indicate that it is an absolute reference.

3. Ctrl + Shift + F3 (Create named ranges)

This shortcut in Excel lets you create a named range from the cells you have selected. These are useful when dealing with multiple formulas so that you can deal with the named ranges as references in your formulas.

4. Ctrl + [ (Identify individual cells in a formula)

This shortcut key lets you find the individual cells used in a formula. When you use it, it selects only the individual cells directly referenced by the formula.

5. Alt + = (AutoSum)

With this shortcut, you can automatically get the sum of the selected data.

6. Ctrl + Shift + [ (Identify all the cells in a formula)

This shortcut key lets you find the cells used in a formula easily. When you use it, it selects all the cells directly referenced by the formula.

Special Navigation Excel Shortcuts

Additionally, some special navigation Excel shortcuts differ from the standard Excel ones. These shortcuts are the best for accessibility and removing the need for a mouse. They help you move around the Excel ribbon menus with just your keyboard. They include the following:

1. Alt + H (Home menu navigation)

This combination is a special combination that comes in handy when navigating the Home menu in the Excel ribbon without a mouse. It labels each item in the menu with a key on the keyboard so that you can access that menu using the keys only.

For example, if you wanted to merge in the Home menu without a mouse, you would use the Alt + H combination and then press M.

2. Alt + F (File menu navigation)

Just like the previous shortcut, this combination lets you navigate around the File menu, assigning and labeling each option with a key on the keyboard.

3. Alt + N (Insert menu navigation)

This combination also takes you directly to the Insert menu and lets you navigate around it by assigning and labeling each option with a key on the keyboard.

4. Alt + L (Developer menu navigation)

This combination lets you navigate around the Developer menu, allowing you to access tools like macros and VBA.

5. Alt + ; (Select Visible Cells)

This is a pro tip: use this to select only the visible cells in a filtered range, ignoring any hidden rows.

How To Press Shortcut Keys

It may seem straightforward, but pressing shortcut keys can be tricky, especially with complex key combinations.

Here’s how to correctly press shortcut keys:

1. Select the cells: First, you need to select the cells you want to work with, depending on the function you want to perform.
2. Press the Modifier key: Hold down the first key of the shortcut combination. This is usually either Ctrl, Shift, or Alt. In the case of MacBooks, it may either be Cmd, Ctrl, or Shift key.
3. Hold down the other keys in the shortcut combination. If you have more than one, you can use both hands, especially when the keys are far apart.

Final Thoughts

Excel keyboard shortcuts are a great way to increase efficiency and save time when using Excel. In this guide, we’ve broken down the best Excel keyboard shortcuts in 2026 that you can use.

We’ve also included a PDF of our keyboard shortcut guide for Excel. Get your copy for free here. You can even print a copy to hang at your desk. You can learn more Excel functions with the help of some of the best Excel courses.