40+ Excel Shortcuts to Work Faster and Smarter

Microsoft Excel is used every day for data entry, calculations, reports, accounting, business tasks, education, and many other types of work. While Excel is already a powerful application, using keyboard shortcuts can make your workflow much faster.

Instead of repeatedly reaching for the mouse, you can use simple key combinations to copy data, format cells, navigate between worksheets, find information, create formulas, and perform many other common tasks.

Below are 40+ useful Excel keyboard shortcuts that can help both beginners and experienced Excel users save time and work more efficiently.

🔹 Basic Excel Shortcuts

Shortcut

What It Does

Ctrl + C

Copy selected data

Ctrl + V

Paste copied data

Ctrl + X

Cut selected data

Ctrl + Z

Undo the last action

Ctrl + Y

Redo the last action

Ctrl + S

Save the workbook

Ctrl + N

Create a new workbook

Ctrl + O

Open an existing workbook

Ctrl + P

Open print options

Ctrl + W

Close the current workbook

🔹 Editing & Formatting Shortcuts

Shortcut

What It Does

F2

Edit the active cell

Ctrl + B

Make text bold

Ctrl + I

Make text italic

Ctrl + U

Underline text

Ctrl + 5

Apply strikethrough

Ctrl + K

Insert a hyperlink

Ctrl + D

Fill data down

Ctrl + A

Select all/current data

Ctrl + Space

Select the entire column

Shift + Space

Select the entire row

🔹 Search & Navigation Shortcuts

Shortcut

What It Does

Ctrl + F

Find text or values

Ctrl + H

Find and replace

Ctrl + G

Go To a cell or range

F5

Open Go To

Ctrl + Page Up

Move to the previous sheet

Ctrl + Page Down

Move to the next sheet

Ctrl + Tab

Switch between workbooks

Ctrl + F6

Switch Excel windows

🔹 Formula & Data Shortcuts

Shortcut

What It Does

Alt + =

Insert AutoSum

Shift + F3

Insert a function

Ctrl + '

Copy value/formula from above

Ctrl + ;

Insert the current date

Ctrl + Shift + ;

Insert the current time

F11

Create a chart

F7

Check spelling

Shift + F5

Open Find

🔹 Number Formatting Shortcuts

Shortcut

What It Does

Ctrl + Shift + $

Apply currency format

Ctrl + Shift + %

Apply percentage format

Ctrl + Shift + #

Apply date format

Ctrl + Shift + @

Apply time format

Ctrl + Shift + ^

Apply scientific format

Ctrl + Shift + !

Apply number format

🔹 More Helpful Excel Shortcuts

Alt + Shift + F1 — Insert a new worksheet

Ctrl + F9 — Minimize the Excel window

Ctrl + F10 — Maximize the Excel window

These shortcuts may look simple, but using them regularly can significantly reduce the number of clicks needed to complete everyday Excel tasks.

Why Excel Shortcuts Are Worth Learning

The biggest advantage of keyboard shortcuts is time saving. If you perform the same action dozens or hundreds of times every day, even saving a few seconds per action can make a noticeable difference.

For example, instead of moving your mouse to the Save button every time, simply press Ctrl + S. Need to search for something? Press Ctrl + F. Want to quickly total a column of numbers? Alt + = can help you insert AutoSum.

The more frequently you use these shortcuts, the more naturally they become part of your workflow.

📥 Download the Free Excel Shortcuts PDF


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