How to Delete Blank Rows in Excel - Practical Guide

Learn to efficiently remove blank rows from your Excel spreadsheet using multiple methods. This essential skill improves data quality, reduces file size, and makes analysis faster. You'll master manual selection, Go To Special feature, and sorting techniques to clean datasets professionally.

Why This Matters

Blank rows cause errors in formulas, sorting, and analysis—removing them ensures data integrity and professional reports. Clean datasets are essential for pivot tables, charts, and database imports.

Prerequisites

•Basic understanding of rows and columns in Excel
•Ability to select cells and ranges

Step-by-Step Instructions

Select Your Data Range

Click on the first cell of your data, then press Ctrl+Shift+End to select all data including blank rows. Alternatively, manually select the range containing blank rows.

Open Go To & Select Dialog

Press Ctrl+H to open Find & Replace, or go to Home > Editing > Find & Select > Go To Special (Alt+O+E+S in some versions).

Use Sort to Group Blank Rows

Select your data range, go to Data > Sort > Sort on any column > choose 'Ascending'. This groups all blank rows at the bottom for easy deletion.

Select and Delete Blank Rows

Click on the row number of the first blank row, hold Shift, and click the last blank row to select them. Right-click and choose Delete > Delete Entire Row.

Verify and Save

Review your spreadsheet to ensure no blank rows remain. Press Ctrl+S to save your cleaned dataset.

Alternative Methods

Using AutoFilter

Select data, apply Data > AutoFilter, uncheck blank cells in the filter dropdown, select visible blank rows, and delete them. Re-enable the filter to restore view.

Manual Row-by-Row Deletion

Right-click on each blank row individually and select Delete > Delete Entire Row. This method is slower but useful for spreadsheets with few blank rows.

Using Find & Replace

Press Ctrl+H, search for ^$ (regular expression for empty cells), and replace with nothing while deleting entire rows. Enable 'Regular expressions' in Options.

Tips & Tricks

✓Always create a backup copy of your file before deleting rows to prevent accidental data loss.
✓Use Ctrl+Z immediately if you accidentally delete the wrong rows—undo is your safety net.
✓Sort by a key column first to keep related data intact while removing blanks.

Pro Tips

★Use Data > Subtotals feature before deleting blanks to identify grouping patterns and prevent accidental deletion of structural blanks.
★For large datasets, apply a filter first, then delete visible rows in batches to improve performance and reduce lag.

Troubleshooting

Go To Special feature doesn't appear in my menu

This feature varies by Excel version. Try Edit > Delete Blank Cells (older versions) or use AutoFilter instead. Check your Excel version in File > Account.

Undo isn't working after deleting rows

Your undo history may be full or exceeded. Save the file immediately and manually restore from a backup copy if needed.

Blank rows reappear after deletion

These may be formula results returning empty strings. Use Find & Replace to search for formulas that return '' and replace with true blanks.

Related Excel Formulas

COUNTA COUNTBLANK IF

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting blank rows affect my formulas?

If formulas reference deleted rows, they'll show #REF! errors. Always verify formulas before deleting and update cell references if needed. Use Find & Replace to check for formula dependencies.

Can I delete blank rows in Excel Online?

Yes, Excel Online supports the same delete row function. Select rows, right-click, and choose Delete. However, some advanced features like Go To Special may have limited functionality.

What's the fastest way to delete blank rows in a huge spreadsheet?

Use AutoFilter to hide non-blank rows, select all visible blank rows, and delete them at once. This is faster than sorting for very large datasets with scattered blanks.