How to Delete Every Other Row in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are dealing with a large dataset in Excel, you may need to delete every other row to make the data more readable.

Doing it manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. Fortunately, there is a quick and easy way to delete every other row in Excel.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps.

How to Delete Every Other Row in Excel

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to delete every other row in Excel:

1. Open the Excel workbook that contains the data you want to modify.
2. Select the first row you want to delete.
3. Hold down the “Ctrl” key and select every other row you want to delete.
4. Right-click on one of the selected rows and click “Delete.”
5. In the “Delete” dialog box, select “Entire row” and click “OK.”

The selected rows will be deleted, leaving every other row intact.

Using Excel Functions to Delete Every Other Row

If you need to delete every other row in a large dataset, doing it manually can be a daunting task.

Excel provides a number of functions that can help you automate the process.

Using the MOD Function

The MOD function is a mathematical function in Excel that returns the remainder of a division. You can use the MOD function to identify every other row in a dataset. Here’s how:

1. In a new column, enter the formula “=MOD(ROW(),2)”
2. Copy the formula down to the last row of your dataset.
3. Filter the column to show only the rows with a “0” value.
4. Select all the filtered rows and delete them.

This method is useful when you have a large dataset with many rows.

Using the ROWS Function

The ROWS function is another Excel function that can help you delete every other row in a dataset. Here’s how:

1. Select the first row you want to delete.
2. Hold down the “Shift” key and select every other row you want to delete.
3. In the “Name Box” (the box to the left of the formula bar), type “=ROWS(selection)”
4. Press “Enter.” This will return the number of rows you have selected.
5. Right-click on one of the selected rows and click “Delete.”
6. In the “Delete” dialog box, select “Entire row” and click “OK.”

This method is useful when you need to delete a small number of rows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I undo the deletion of every other row in Excel?

Yes, you can undo the deletion of every other row in Excel. Press “Ctrl” + “Z” or click “Undo” on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Q2. Will deleting every other row affect the remaining data in Excel?

No, deleting every other row will not affect the remaining data in Excel. The data in the remaining rows will remain intact.

Q3. Is it possible to delete every other column in Excel?

Yes, it is possible to delete every other column in Excel using a similar process. Instead of selecting rows, you will need to select columns and use the same delete function.

Q4. Can I automate the process of deleting every other row in Excel?

Yes, you can automate the process of deleting every other row in Excel using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) macros.

Q5. Is it possible to delete every third or fourth row in Excel?

Yes, it is possible to delete every third or fourth row in Excel using the same process described above. Instead of using the “2” in the formula, use “3” or “4,” respectively.