How to Merge Cells in Excel

Tap a step to see how to merge cells in Excel.

  1. Select the cell range to merge

    Drag to select the adjacent cells you want to combine into one.

  2. Click "Home > Merge & Center"

    In the "Alignment" group on the "Home" tab, click the "Merge & Center" icon.

  3. Choose a merge option

    Click the drop-down arrow to pick detailed options like "Merge All" or "Merge Across."

  4. How to unmerge cells

    Click the same button again to unmerge and return the cells to their original, separate state.

  5. Things to watch out for

    When merging, only the value in the top-left cell is kept and the rest of the data is discarded, so double-check your data before merging.

Tidy Up a Table Title

When you want a title that spans several columns to look like a single cell, cell merging is the tool to use. It's especially common for creating header rows in reports and forms.

Try Freezing Panes Too

Once your headers look clean, you may also want to freeze the top row or first column so those labels stay visible while you scroll through a large spreadsheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can merged cells cause problems with sorting or filtering?

Yes. Sorting and filtering may not work correctly on merged cells, so for actual data tables it's better to use "Center Across Selection" instead of merging.

Can I split the data in a merged cell back apart?

When you unmerge, the value stays only in the original top-left cell and the other cells become blank, so you'll need to re-enter the data manually to split it up again.