Select the whole column in Excel: Ctrl+Space

Select the whole column in Excel: Ctrl+Space (Mac: Control+Space)

Windows	`Ctrl+Space`
Mac	`Control+Space`
Group	selection

Practice this shortcut

Drill: Select a whole column. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.

What it does and when to use it

Ctrl+Space selects the entire column, including empty cells below the data. Use it before hiding, inserting or deleting columns, or to format a column for data that is still coming.

The common mistake

Using it to format numbers when the column also holds a header: the header gets the number format too. Select the data with Ctrl+Shift+Down instead.

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 current table Ctrl+A
Select to the last used cell Ctrl+Shift+End
The printable cheat sheet

Questions

What is the difference between Ctrl+Space and Ctrl+Shift+Down?

Ctrl+Space takes the whole column of the sheet. Ctrl+Shift+Down takes only the filled cells below the active one.

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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