To move rows in Excel on Windows or the web, select their row numbers, press Ctrl + X, right-click the destination row number, and choose Insert Cut Cells. Excel inserts the selected rows above that destination. On Windows and Mac, you can also hold Shift while dragging the selection border to insert rows in a new position.
The short version
- Cut and insert: Choose Insert Cut Cells on Windows or the web to insert rows above the destination without replacing its contents.
- Desktop dragging: Hold Shift, drag the selection border, and release the mouse button before releasing Shift.
- Browser dragging: Drag without Shift to insert rows, because holding Shift replaces destination contents.
- Large rearrangements: Sort the complete dataset by a numbered helper column to put many records in your chosen order.
| Method | Where it works | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Cut and Insert Cut Cells | Windows and web | Inserts rows above the destination |
| Shift and drag | Windows and Mac | Inserts rows between existing rows |
| Drag without a modifier key | Windows and Mac | Replaces destination contents and leaves source cells blank |
| Drag without a modifier key | Web | Inserts rows at the chosen position |
| Shift and drag | Web | Replaces destination contents |
| Keyboard cut and insert | Windows and web | Inserts a row without using a mouse |
| Touch and drag | iPhone and iPad | Moves the selected row after dotted lines appear |
| Touch and drag | Android | Moves selected data after you touch and hold it |
| Sort by a helper column | Windows, Mac, and web | Reorders records within the dataset |
| Insert blank rows, transfer, then delete originals | Windows and web | Makes space before moving contents and closes the source gap afterward |
Select the rows you want to move
Click a row number at the left edge of the worksheet to select the entire row. To move several consecutive rows, select their row numbers together. Whole-row selection includes cells outside your main dataset, so select only the record range when other cells on the same row should stay in place.
Choose the instructions for the Excel app you are using, because browser dragging behaves differently from desktop dragging. The desktop steps below apply to Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024 on Windows and Mac where specified.
Insert rows at a new position
On Windows, select the source row numbers, then choose Home > Cut or press Ctrl + X. Right-click the number of the row that should come immediately after the moved rows, then choose Insert Cut Cells. The selection goes above that destination row, so choose it based on the content you want beneath the moved rows.
For example, to move row 8 above row 3, cut row 8 and choose Insert Cut Cells from row 3's context menu. The same cut-and-insert method works in Excel for the web. Use the insertion command when the destination already contains data you want to keep.
To move rows to another worksheet, cut the source selection and click the other worksheet's tab. Right-click the destination row number there and choose Insert Cut Cells. Your selection is inserted above that row on the destination sheet.
Drag rows into place on Windows or Mac
On desktop Excel, select the consecutive row numbers you want to move. Point to the selection border, hold Shift, and drag the border to the insertion position between the destination rows. Release the mouse button first, then release Shift.
An ordinary desktop drag relocates the selected contents onto the destination rows, replacing their existing contents and leaving the source cells blank. Hold Shift throughout the drag when you want to insert the rows among existing data.
Grab the selection border rather than dragging from the middle of a cell. If dragging does not work, use cut and insert on Windows or enable the desktop drag setting under the fixes below.
Use the browser drag behavior
In Excel for the web, select consecutive row numbers and point to the selection border until the hand pointer appears. Drag the selection to the insertion position without holding a modifier key. Plain dragging inserts the selected rows in the browser.
Holding Shift while dragging in the web app replaces destination contents instead. That reverses the desktop behavior, so check which app you are using before dragging. For a menu alternative, cut the rows and choose Insert Cut Cells at the destination.
Move a row using only the keyboard
On Windows, select any cell in the source row and press Shift + Spacebar to select the whole row. Press Ctrl + X, navigate to the destination row, then press Shift + Spacebar again. Choose the destination row you want immediately below the moved row.
Press Shift + F10 or the Menu key to open the context menu. Use Up Arrow or Down Arrow to select Insert Cut Cells, then press Enter. This workflow also works in Excel for the web when the worksheet has keyboard focus.
Move rows on a phone or tablet
On iPhone or iPad, tap the row heading to select the row. Touch and hold the selected row until animated dotted lines appear, then drag and drop it at the destination.
On Android, tap the row heading, touch and hold the selected row, then drag the selected data to its destination. If you need to insert rows between occupied rows while preserving their contents, use the desktop or browser insertion steps above.
Reorder many records with a helper column
When many records need a new order, add a helper column and enter each record's desired position, such as 1, 2, and 3. Select the complete dataset, including the helper column, so the values belonging to each record move together. Sorting rearranges records within that range rather than moving entire worksheet rows.
On Windows, open Data > Sort and select My data has headers when your dataset includes a header row. Under Sort by, choose the helper column, set Sort On to Cell Values, then choose ascending order under Order. Select OK to apply the order.
On Mac, open Data > Sort and select My list has headers when your dataset has a header row. Under Column, choose the helper column, configure Sort On for values, and choose ascending order under Order.
In the browser, choose Data > Custom Sort, choose the helper column under Sort by, and select ascending order under Order. After sorting, remove the helper column if you no longer need it.
Make space manually before moving rows
On Windows, you can insert blank destination rows, transfer the contents, and delete the empty original rows. Select the destination row and choose Home > Insert > Insert Sheet Rows, adding enough space for your selection. For a larger selection, follow the steps to insert multiple rows in Excel before transferring the data.
Select the source rows and press Ctrl + X, then select the blank destination rows and press Ctrl + V. Select the now-empty original rows and choose Home > Delete > Delete Sheet Rows to close the gap.
In the web app, right-click the destination row numbers and choose Insert Rows to make enough space. Cut the source rows and paste them into the blank destination rows. Then right-click the empty original row numbers and use the row-deletion option to close the gap.
Fix dragging and editing restrictions
If desktop dragging does nothing, check its editing setting. On Windows, open File > Options > Advanced, then under Editing options, select Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop. Also select Alert before overwriting cells, then select OK.
On Mac, open Excel > Preferences... > Edit. Under Edit Options, select Allow fill handle and cell drag-and-drop and Alert before overwriting cells. If cutting or pasting also fails, follow the steps to fix Excel cut and paste.
Worksheet protection can also prevent a move. In desktop Excel, select Review > Unprotect Sheet, enter the worksheet password when prompted, and select OK. Then perform the row move.
In the browser, choose Review > Pause Protection and enter the password when required. Move your rows, then choose Review > Resume Protection to restore paused protection.
If the workbook is in browser viewing mode, select Edit Workbook > Edit in Browser where that menu appears. You need editing permission to make the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you move nonadjacent rows together in Excel?
You cannot move nonadjacent rows together with the mouse method. Move each row or consecutive group separately, or use a numbered helper column to arrange the records in one sort.
Can an Excel formula put rows into a different order?
Yes, SORT, SORTBY, and CHOOSEROWS can produce reordered output while leaving the original cells in place. CHOOSEROWS lets you specify the sequence of rows to return. You can use all three functions in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024 on Windows and Mac.
Can you move row contents between workbooks?
Yes, you can cut the source row, select a destination row in another workbook, and paste it. On Windows, use Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V; on Mac, use Command + X and Command + V. Choose an empty destination because ordinary paste does not insert a row, and the source row remains blank.
How do you move a row label inside a PivotTable?
On Windows, open the Row Labels arrow, choose More Sort Options, and select Manual before dragging a row item's cell border to its new position. In Excel for the web, drag the item border or right-click the label and open Move to choose a position. This rearranges PivotTable items rather than the underlying worksheet records.