Excel
Spreadsheets for budgets, lists, reports and analysis. Start with the basics of cells and formulas, then work up to lookups, PivotTables and automation.
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Excel Basics: Workbooks, Cells and Ranges →Learn what workbooks, worksheets, cells and ranges are, then select, enter, edit and save data with confidence.
Tutorials by topic
Getting started
- Excel Basics: Workbooks, Cells and RangesLearn what workbooks, worksheets, cells and ranges are, then select, enter, edit and save data with confidence.Beginner10 min read
- Excel Navigation and Keyboard ShortcutsJump to the edges of your data, select whole columns of numbers, insert totals and run everyday commands from the keyboard.Beginner10 min read
- Paste Special in Excel: Paste Values, Transpose and MorePaste only the part of a copy you need: values instead of formulas, formats, a transposed copy, or a calculation applied to a whole range.Beginner10 min read
- How to Use AutoFill and the Fill Handle in ExcelFill days, months, numbers, dates and numbered labels by dragging the fill handle, and control the result with Auto Fill Options and the Series dialog.Beginner9 min read
- How to Save, AutoSave and Undo in ExcelSave a workbook, let AutoSave keep cloud files up to date, undo and redo mistakes, and get back work after Excel closes unexpectedly.Beginner9 min read
- How to Freeze Panes in ExcelKeep headings and labels on screen while you scroll: freeze the top row, the first column, or any rows and columns, and unfreeze them again.Beginner8 min read
- Quick Totals from the Excel Status BarGet the sum, average, count, minimum and maximum of any selection from the status bar, without writing a formula, and copy the result in one click.Beginner7 min read
- Customize the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar in ExcelPut the commands you use most one click away: add them to the Quick Access Toolbar, build your own ribbon tab, show the Developer tab and reset everything.Beginner8 min read
- Zoom, Split and New Window: Viewing Large Sheets in ExcelSee more of a big sheet, or two parts of it at once: zoom in and out, zoom to a selection, split the window, and open a second window side by side.Beginner9 min read
- How to Hide and Unhide Rows, Columns and Sheets in ExcelHide rows, columns and sheets you don't need to see, bring them back, and know how hidden cells affect formulas, copying and charts.Beginner8 min read
- How to Use and Create Excel TemplatesStart a workbook from a ready-made Excel template, save your own workbook as an .xltx template, and reuse it every month without overwriting the original.Beginner9 min read
Formatting
- How to Format Cells in ExcelMake a plain table easy to read with bold headings, fill colors, borders, alignment, wrapped text and the right column widths.Beginner10 min read
- Number and Date Formats in ExcelShow prices as currency, discounts as percentages and dates as real dates, and control decimal places without changing the stored values.Beginner9 min read
- How to Use Conditional Formatting in ExcelColor cells automatically by rule: flag values over a limit, catch duplicates, highlight top values, add data bars and write your own formula rules.Intermediate13 min read
- How to Use Format Painter in ExcelCopy the look of one cell to other cells with Format Painter: number formats, fonts, fills, borders and highlight rules, once or many times.Beginner8 min read
- Merge & Center and Wrap Text in ExcelCenter a title over a table, fit long text inside a cell with Wrap Text and line breaks, and avoid the problems merged cells cause.Beginner9 min read
- Cell Styles and Themes in ExcelFormat cells with named cell styles you can change in one place, create your own styles, and switch a workbook's colors and fonts with a theme.Intermediate10 min read
- Checkboxes and Pictures in Cells in ExcelAdd tick boxes that count themselves, strike through finished tasks, and place pictures inside cells so they sort and filter with their rows.Beginner10 min read
Formulas
- How to Write Basic Formulas in ExcelAdd, subtract, multiply and divide with formulas that use cell references, so your results update by themselves when the numbers change.Beginner10 min read
- Essential Excel Functions: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN and MAXSummarize any column of numbers with five functions: total it, average it, count it and find its lowest and highest values.Beginner10 min read
- Copying Formulas and Cell References in ExcelWrite a formula once and copy it down a whole column with the fill handle, and understand how Excel adjusts each copy's cell references.Beginner9 min read
- How to Write IF Statements in ExcelTurn a comparison into a clear answer with IF, then count and total the rows that meet a condition with COUNTIF and SUMIF.Beginner11 min read
- Relative, Absolute and Mixed References in ExcelControl what changes when you copy a formula: keep row references moving, lock a shared rate with $, and build a grid with mixed references.Intermediate12 min read
- Logic Formulas in Excel: IF with AND, OR and IFSTurn business rules into formulas: sort values into tiers with IFS, test several conditions with AND and OR, and catch errors with IFERROR.Intermediate13 min read
- Lookup Formulas in Excel: XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCHPull a price or category from a reference table with XLOOKUP, read and write VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH, and handle values that aren't in the list.Intermediate14 min read
- Text and Date Functions in ExcelClean up names with TRIM, pull parts out of codes, join values into labels, and count the working days left before a deadline.Intermediate14 min read
- Dynamic Array Formulas in Excel: FILTER, SORT and UNIQUEWrite one formula that spills a whole list: unique values, sorted results, filtered rows, numbered sequences and top-N lists that update with the data.Advanced14 min read
- Cleaner Formulas with LET in ExcelName the pieces of a long formula with LET so each is calculated once, the formula reads like a sentence, and errors are caught on purpose with IFNA.Advanced12 min read
- Advanced Lookups in Excel: Multiple Criteria and Approximate MatchLook up a value that depends on two columns, read a row-and-column grid, and place numbers into tiers with approximate match.Advanced16 min read
- Reusable Formulas with LAMBDA and Dynamic ArraysWrite a rule once as a named LAMBDA, apply it to a whole column with MAP, fold values with SCAN and REDUCE, and test it before you rely on it.Expert17 min read
- How to Use Named Ranges in ExcelGive cells and ranges names like Sales or BonusRate, use them in formulas, and edit, fix or delete them in Name Manager.Intermediate11 min read
Function guides
- How to Use the SUM Function in ExcelAdd up a column, a row or scattered cells with SUM, and get a total in one keystroke with AutoSum.Beginner11 min read
- How to Use the AVERAGE Function in ExcelFind the average of a column, a row or several ranges with AVERAGE, and know how it treats blank cells, zeros and text.Beginner12 min read
- COUNT and COUNTA in Excel: Count Numbers and Non-Blank CellsCount the cells that hold numbers with COUNT, count every filled cell with COUNTA, and know which one to use.Beginner12 min read
- How to Use MIN and MAX in ExcelFind the smallest and largest numbers in a range with MIN and MAX, within a group with MINIFS and MAXIFS, and use them to cap a value.Beginner13 min read
- How to Use the IF Function in ExcelMake a formula return one result when a condition is true and another when it's false, with text, numbers or calculations.Beginner13 min read
- How to Use SUMIF and SUMIFS in ExcelAdd up only the numbers that meet a condition with SUMIF, or several conditions at once with SUMIFS.Intermediate14 min read
- How to Use COUNTIF and COUNTIFS in ExcelCount the cells that meet a condition with COUNTIF, or several conditions at once with COUNTIFS, using operators, cell references and wildcards.Intermediate14 min read
- How to Use VLOOKUP in ExcelLook up a value in a table and return a matching value from the same row with VLOOKUP, and fix the #N/A and #REF! errors it can return.Intermediate15 min read
- How to Use XLOOKUP in ExcelFind a value in one column and return the matching value from another with XLOOKUP, including a fallback for missing values, nearest matches and wildcards.Intermediate15 min read
- How to Use IFERROR in ExcelReplace error values such as #DIV/0! and #N/A with a value or message of your own using IFERROR and IFNA, without hiding real mistakes.Intermediate14 min read
- How to Use INDEX and MATCH in ExcelCombine INDEX and MATCH to look up a value in any column, including one to the left, and to find the value where a row and a column meet.Intermediate13 min read
- How to Use AND and OR in ExcelTest several conditions at once with AND and OR, reverse a test with NOT, and use them inside IF to label, flag and calculate rows.Beginner12 min read
- How to Use the IFS Function in ExcelSort values into grades, tiers and price bands with IFS instead of nested IFs, and know when SWITCH or a lookup table is the better choice.Intermediate13 min read
- How to Use AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS in ExcelAverage only the numbers that meet a condition with AVERAGEIF, or several conditions at once with AVERAGEIFS, including date ranges and wildcards.Intermediate12 min read
- How to Round Numbers in Excel: ROUND, ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWNRound prices to the cent, sales to the nearest thousand and box counts up to whole numbers with ROUND, ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN.Beginner11 min read
- How to Use TODAY and NOW in ExcelUse TODAY and NOW to count days to a deadline, flag overdue items, work out ages and years of service, and enter dates that don't change.Beginner11 min read
- How to Use the TEXT Function in ExcelUse TEXT to format numbers, percentages and dates inside a formula, so they read properly when you join them into labels and sentences.Intermediate11 min read
- How to Join Text in Excel: CONCAT, TEXTJOIN and &Combine names, codes and lists into one cell with the & operator, CONCAT and TEXTJOIN, with spaces, separators, line breaks and number formats where you want them.Beginner11 min read
- How to Use LEFT, RIGHT and MID in ExcelPull characters from the start, end or middle of a code, ID or email address with LEFT, RIGHT and MID, and handle parts of varying length with FIND and LEN.Beginner11 min read
- How to Use the TRIM Function in ExcelRemove the extra spaces that break lookups and counts with TRIM, and clean up non-breaking spaces and line breaks from web and exported data.Beginner10 min read
Working with data
- How to Sort and Filter Data in ExcelPut a list in order by one or more columns, and show only the rows you need with text and number filters.Beginner9 min read
- How to Use Excel TablesTurn a plain range into an Excel table with Ctrl+T, then let it filter, band, total and extend formulas to new rows for you.Beginner9 min read
- How to Clean Up Data in ExcelFix a messy list: trim stray spaces, swap values with Find and Replace, split names into columns, remove duplicate rows and find blank cells.Beginner12 min read
- Turn Messy Data into a Clean Excel TableGet a range table-ready, convert it to a named Excel Table, add a calculated column and switch on a Total Row.Intermediate12 min read
- How to Use Data Validation in ExcelAdd drop-down lists, number and date rules, input messages and error alerts, then protect formula cells so only the inputs can change.Intermediate13 min read
- Importing and Cleaning Data in ExcelImport a CSV file without losing data, check that numbers are really numbers, then split, fill, standardize and de-duplicate an export.Intermediate13 min read
- How to Use Flash Fill in ExcelSplit, combine and reformat text by typing one example and letting Flash Fill complete the column, and know when a formula is the better choice.Beginner9 min read
- How to Use Find and Replace in ExcelFind any value on a sheet or in a whole workbook, change every copy of it at once, and use options and wildcards so you replace only what you mean to.Beginner9 min read
- How to Use Go To Special in ExcelSelect every blank, formula, constant, error or visible cell in a range in one step, then fill, check, fix or copy them all at once.Intermediate10 min read
- How to Use Advanced Filter in ExcelFilter a list with conditions typed in cells, combine AND and OR across columns, copy the matching rows elsewhere and pull out a unique list.Intermediate10 min read
- How to Remove Duplicates in ExcelDelete repeated rows from a list with Remove Duplicates, choose which columns decide what counts as a duplicate, and check for duplicates before you delete.Beginner8 min read
- How to Split Data with Text to Columns in ExcelSplit one column into several at a comma, a dash or a fixed position, keep leading zeros, and turn text dates into real dates with Text to Columns.Beginner9 min read
- Group, Outline and Subtotal in ExcelAdd a total under each group of a sorted list with Subtotal, collapse rows and columns with an outline, and group detail rows or columns yourself.Intermediate10 min read
- How to Consolidate Data from Several Sheets in ExcelCombine lists from several sheets or workbooks into one summary with the Consolidate command, matching rows by their labels or by position.Intermediate10 min read
Charts and dashboards
- How to Create a Chart in ExcelTurn a column of numbers into a column, line or pie chart, add a clear title and axis titles, and pick the right chart for your question.Beginner9 min read
- PivotCharts, Slicers and Simple Dashboards in ExcelTurn a PivotTable into a PivotChart, add slicers and a timeline anyone can click to filter, and arrange them into a clean one-page dashboard.Intermediate13 min read
- Designing an Excel DashboardPlan a dashboard around one audience and one decision, pick three to five KPIs, match each chart to its question and remove everything that doesn't help.Advanced13 min read
- Building Interactive Dashboards in ExcelBuild one dashboard with an executive view and an analyst view, clear controls, exceptions first, drill paths and a clean print layout.Expert14 min read
- How to Add Sparklines in ExcelDraw a tiny line, column or win/loss chart inside a cell next to each row of numbers, mark the high and low points, and compare rows on the same scale.Beginner8 min read
- How to Use the Quick Analysis Tool in ExcelSelect some data and press Ctrl+Q to preview and add conditional formatting, a chart, totals, a table or sparklines in one or two clicks.Beginner8 min read
PivotTables
- How to Create a PivotTable in ExcelSummarize a list by category, month or region in a few clicks with a PivotTable, then change the calculation, format the numbers and refresh it.Intermediate13 min read
- Advanced PivotTables in ExcelGroup dates into quarters, show values as a percent of the total, add calculated fields, filter to the top N and keep a PivotTable's cache up to date.Advanced13 min read
Power Query and the Data Model
- Power Query Basics: Combine and Clean Data in ExcelImport a folder of monthly files with Power Query, clean them with applied steps, and refresh the result whenever a new file arrives.Advanced15 min read
- Excel Data Model and Power Pivot BasicsRelate a sales table to a product table in the Data Model, build one PivotTable from both, and write your first DAX measures.Advanced14 min read
- Power Query Engineering: Parameters, Staging and RefreshBuild a folder import that survives change: a path parameter, a custom function, a connection-only staging query, a Rejected Rows table and checks you run after every refresh.Expert18 min read
- Data Modeling and DAX Measures in ExcelDesign a star schema in the Data Model, keep measures in their own table, and write DAX with CALCULATE, DIVIDE and SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR.Expert17 min read
What-if and analysis tools
- What-If Analysis in Excel: Goal Seek, Scenarios and Data TablesWork backward from a target with Goal Seek, save best and worst cases with Scenario Manager, and compare many inputs at once with data tables.Advanced15 min read
- Solver, Forecasting and Statistics Tools in ExcelFind the best product mix with Solver, test how sensitive it is, project a time series with Forecast Sheet and handle outliers in a trend honestly.Expert18 min read
- Ask Questions About Your Data: Analyze Data and Copilot in ExcelGet your data ready, ask Analyze Data or Copilot questions in plain language, and check every answer with a formula before you rely on it.Beginner11 min read
Workbook design and quality
- Organize and Protect an Excel WorkbookGive each sheet a clear job, freeze headers, name ranges, add notes and comments, and protect formulas while inputs stay editable.Intermediate12 min read
- Productivity and Formula Auditing in ExcelSelect blanks and formulas in one step, paste values and formats, copy styles, and trace and evaluate formulas to find out why a number is wrong.Intermediate13 min read
- Workbook Architecture: Structuring Excel ModelsSplit a workbook into input, data, calculation and output sheets, name your assumption cells and document it so someone else can run it.Advanced11 min read
- Error Checking and Controls in ExcelTrace and evaluate suspicious formulas, add reconciliation checks and an error summary, handle filtered rows correctly and protect a report before you send it.Advanced14 min read
- Making Excel Workbooks Faster and Easier to MaintainFind what makes a workbook slow, replace volatile functions and oversized ranges, use manual calculation safely and leave notes so the next person can maintain it.Advanced13 min read
- Planning an Excel Solution: Requirements and DesignTurn a vague request into a design brief: the decision, the refresh cadence, a workbook map, an assumptions register, an owner and testable acceptance criteria.Expert13 min read
- Testing Excel Models and Keeping Audit TrailsAdd a QA sheet that proves no rows were lost, totals tie back to the source and problems are listed, and keep a change log for every release.Expert15 min read
- Excel Performance at ScaleFind out why a large workbook is slow, fix the costliest causes first, and recognize when the job has outgrown Excel.Expert16 min read
- Securing and Deploying Excel WorkbooksProtect formulas while inputs stay open, know what Excel passwords really protect, handle macros and external links safely, and release each version with a checklist and a rollback plan.Expert14 min read
- Excel Capstone Project: Build a Complete SolutionA guided project brief: build a refreshable operations model from five sources, with queries, a star schema, measures, a two-audience dashboard, QA checks, automation and a handoff.Expert15 min read
- Comments and Notes in ExcelAsk questions with threaded comments, mention and reply to colleagues, resolve finished threads, and explain cells with notes.Beginner9 min read
- Share, Co-author and Restore Versions in ExcelShare a workbook from OneDrive or SharePoint with the right permissions, edit it with others at the same time, and bring back an earlier version.Beginner10 min read
- How to Print in Excel: Print Area, Titles and Fit to PagePrint exactly the cells you want, repeat the heading row on every page, fit a sheet to one page wide, and add page numbers.Beginner11 min read
- How to Save Excel as PDF or CSVTurn a sheet into a PDF that looks right for anyone, or a CSV file that other apps can import, and know what each format keeps and loses.Beginner10 min read
Macros and automation
- How to Record a Macro in ExcelRecord a repeated formatting job as a macro, read the VBA Excel writes, choose relative or absolute references and save and open macro files safely.Advanced13 min read
- Automating Excel with VBAWrite VBA macros by hand: loop over ranges without Select, handle errors, respond to events, and log every run.Expert20 min read
- Office Scripts and Power Automate for ExcelRecord and write Office Scripts, run them on a schedule with Power Automate, and choose the simplest automation that solves the job.Expert16 min read