Excel Shortcut to Insert a Row (and delete one)

Right-click › Insert works. This is faster.

Insert a row above the current one

1. Click any cell in the row.
2. Press Shift + Space to select the whole row.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + + (the plus key; on many keyboards that is Ctrl + Shift + =).

A blank row appears above. Mac: ⌘ + Shift + +.

Insert several rows at once

Select three rows (Shift + Space, then Shift + Down twice), then Ctrl + Shift + +. Three rows are inserted.

Delete a row

Shift + Space, then Ctrl + − (minus).

Insert or delete a column

Same keys, but select the column first with Ctrl + Space.

Insert just cells (shift others down)

Do not select the whole row — just press Ctrl + Shift + + on the cell. A small dialog asks: Shift cells down / right / entire row / entire column.

Repeat the last action

Press F4 to insert another row exactly the same way.

Check it worked

Formulas that referred to rows below the insertion still point at the right data — Excel adjusts them. A total at the bottom with =SUM(A1:A50) becomes =SUM(A1:A51).

Common mistake

Inserting a row directly under the last row of a SUM range does not extend the range. Insert inside the range, or use an Excel Table which grows by itself.