Select a column in Excel (Ctrl+Space)
Select the whole column of the active cell: press Ctrl+Space. Same on Mac and Windows.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select column | ⌃Space | Ctrl+Space | |
| Select row | ⇧Space | Shift+Space | |
| Select whole sheet | ⌘A | Ctrl+A | |
| Extend selection to next columns | ⌃Space then ⇧←/→ | Ctrl+Space then Shift+←/→ | |
| Select to last used column | ⌃⇧→ | Ctrl+Shift+→ | |
| Insert column (after selecting) | ⌃⇧+ | Ctrl+Shift++ | |
| Delete selected column | ⌃- | Ctrl+- | |
| Hide selected column | ⌃0 | Ctrl+0 |
Select an entire column
Click any cell and press Ctrl+Space to select its whole column. The keys are the same on Mac and Windows because they are Excel's own shortcut, not an OS one.
Select several columns at once
After Ctrl+Space selects the first column, hold Shift and tap ← or → to grow the selection across neighbouring columns. To jump straight to the last column that holds data, use Ctrl+Shift+→ (⌃⇧→ on Mac).
Row, sheet, or just a block
Shift+Space selects the whole row instead, and Ctrl+A selects the entire sheet (press it twice inside a table to first grab the table, then everything). To select only the filled block you are standing in, use Ctrl+Shift+Space.
Act on the selected column
With a column highlighted you can insert one to the left with Ctrl+Shift++, delete it with Ctrl+-, or hide it with Ctrl+0. On the Mac the insert/delete keys are ⌃⇧+ and ⌃-.
Mac troubleshooting: Ctrl+Space does nothing
If ⌃Space opens Spotlight or switches your keyboard layout instead of selecting the column, macOS is intercepting the keystroke. Open System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ Spotlight (and ▸ Input Sources) and turn off the ⌃Space binding, or reassign it. Excel for Mac then receives the key normally.
FAQ
What is the select-column shortcut in Excel?
Press Ctrl+Space (same on Mac and Windows) to select the entire column of the active cell.
How do I select a whole row instead?
Press Shift+Space with any cell in that row active.
How do I select multiple columns?
After Ctrl+Space, hold Shift and press the Left/Right arrow keys to extend across more columns.
How do I select to the last column with data?
Press Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow (⌃⇧→ on Mac) to extend the selection to the last used column.
Why does Ctrl+Space open Spotlight on my Mac instead of selecting the column?
macOS claims ⌃Space for Spotlight or input-source switching. Turn that binding off in System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts, and Excel for Mac will receive Ctrl+Space normally.
How do I delete or hide the selected column?
With the column selected, press Ctrl+- (⌃-) to delete it or Ctrl+0 to hide it.