Select a block from its top-left cell in Excel

Select a block from its top-left cell in Excel: Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow, Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Right arrow, Cmd+Shift+Down arrow)

Windows	`Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow, Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow`
Mac	`Cmd+Shift+Right arrow, Cmd+Shift+Down arrow`
Group	selection

Practice this shortcut

Drill: Extend across the row and down. Free, no sign-up.

What it does and when to use it

From the top-left cell of a table, Ctrl+Shift+Right extends to the last column and Ctrl+Shift+Down to the last row. Two presses select any rectangular block, headers included.

The common mistake

Doing Down first on a table whose first column has a blank: the selection stops at the gap. Right first, then Down, uses the header row, which is rarely gappy.

Related shortcuts

Select a column of data Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow
Select across a row Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow
Select the whole row Shift+Space
Select the whole column Ctrl+Space
Select the current table Ctrl+A
The printable cheat sheet

Questions

Is this better than Ctrl+A?

Ctrl+A is one press but takes the whole region, including columns you may not want. Right then Down lets you stop early with Shift+Left.

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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