Find where a column stops in Excel

Find where a column stops in Excel: Ctrl+Down arrow (Mac: Cmd+Down arrow)

Windows	`Ctrl+Down arrow`
Mac	`Cmd+Down arrow`
Group	navigation

Practice this shortcut

Drill: Where the data stops. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.

What it does and when to use it

Ctrl+Down stops at the last filled cell before a blank. Used deliberately it is the quickest way to find a missing value in a column: if it stops early, there is a hole.

The common mistake

Assuming a column is complete because it looks full on screen. Ctrl+Down from the top tells you in one press.

Related shortcuts

Jump to the last column of a row Ctrl+Right arrow
Return to cell A1 Ctrl+Home
Jump back up to the header Ctrl+Up arrow
Go to the start of the row Home
Go to the last used cell Ctrl+End
The printable cheat sheet

Questions

How do I find blank cells in a column?

Ctrl+Down from the top stops just before the first blank. For every blank at once, use Go To Special with Blanks: Ctrl+G, Alt+S, K.

Learn it by pressing it

Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.

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