Data, filters, tables and pivots shortcuts
Create table shortcut in Excel
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Create a tableOn a Mac, Cmd+T switches $ signs instead while you are editing a formula. | Ctrl+T or Ctrl+L | Command+T or Control+T |
| Format as Table, choosing a style | Alt+H, T | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Turn filters on or off How to: Excel filter shortcut Turning filters off also clears every filter, so all rows show again. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Command+Shift+F or Control+Shift+L |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
What you get
- Filter buttons on every header.
- Formulas that fill down by themselves when you add a row.
- Structured references such as
=SUM(Sales[Amount])that grow with the data. - Banded rows and a header that stays visible as you scroll.
- A clean source for a PivotTable or chart that updates as rows are added.
Table shortcuts on Windows
Alt+H, T formats as a table with a style you pick. Inside a table, Alt+J, T opens the Table Design tab and Alt+J, T, O turns the header row on or off. Alt+H, I, A inserts a table row above and Alt+H, D, L deletes table rows.
When it does not work
- Mac: Command+T switches $ signs instead while you are editing a formula. Press Return or Esc first.
- Excel guessed the wrong range: a blank row or column split your data. Fix the range in the dialog, or remove the gap.
- Headers became Column1, Column2: the box "My table has headers" was off, or the header row had numbers or blanks.
- The command is greyed out: the sheet is protected or the range is already a table.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
F4 vs Cmd+T on a Mac
On Windows, F4 has two jobs: while you edit a formula it switches a reference between A1, $A$1, A$1 and $A1, and the rest of the time it repeats your last action. On a Mac, Command+T and F4 both switch the reference, but Command+T creates a table when you are not editing a formula. On a Mac laptop F4 may need Fn.
KeyTips change with the language
Alt sequences such as Alt+H, O, I are ribbon KeyTips: press Alt and the letters appear on screen. They come from the English ribbon. In another language, or when an add-in adds a tab, the letters can differ, so read them off the screen rather than memorizing them.
Related shortcuts
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| In a table, insert a row above | Alt+H, I, A | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Turn the table header row on or off | Alt+J, T, O | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Open the Table Design tab | Alt+J, T | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Insert cells, rows or columns How to: Insert row shortcut in Excel Select whole rows (Shift+Space) or columns (Ctrl+Space) first and they go in straight away; otherwise the Insert dialog asks which way to shift. | Ctrl+Shift+PlusWeb Ctrl+Plus | Control+Shift+= |
FAQ
What is the shortcut to create a table in Excel?
Ctrl+T or Ctrl+L on Windows, Cmd+T or Ctrl+T on a Mac, Ctrl+L in Excel for the web.
How do I turn a table back into a range?
Table Design > Convert to Range. The formatting stays; remove it with Clear Formats if needed.
Is Ctrl+T the same as Format as Table?
Almost. Ctrl+T uses the default style; Format as Table (Alt+H, T on Windows) lets you pick one first.
Related guides
- How to create a pivot table in ExcelClick any cell in your data and go to Insert > PivotTable, then click OK.
- How to create a drop-down list in ExcelSelect the cells, go to Data > Data Validation, set Allow to List, and in Source either type the items separated by commas (Not started,In progress,Done) or select the range that holds them.
- How to make a running total (cumulative sum) in ExcelFor a running total, type =SUM($B$2:B2) in the first row and fill it down.
In the glossary: TableStructured referenceHeader row
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