How to Add Columns in Google Sheets

Adding columns in Google Sheets can help you better organize and structure your data. 

• Add columns in Google Sheets by highlighting adjacent columns, navigating to the Insert menu, choosing Columns, and selecting Insert left or Insert right.

• Pressing Command + Shift + = on your keyboard is a quick shortcut for adding columns when with Mac OS, while Ctrl + Alt + Shift + = works for Windows.

• You can also add rows to Google Sheets by following similar steps.

Follow this tutorial to learn how to perform each step needed to add columns in Google Sheets, troubleshoot common errors, and insert multiple rows in Google Sheets. If you're ready to learn in-demand data skills, consider enrolling in the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you can get on the fast track to a career in data analytics by learning key analytical skills, such as data cleaning, analysis, & visualization, getting AI training from Google experts, and more.

How to add columns in Google Sheets

Here is a quick guide on how to add columns:

1. Open your Google Sheet.

2. Highlight the column adjacent to where you want the new column.

3. Navigate to the Insert menu.

4. Hover over the Insert > Columns button.

5. Pick a direction to add your column.

6. Customize your column.

Now, let's go over each step in detail.

How do I quickly add columns in Google Sheets?

You can use a keyboard shortcut to quickly add a column to the left in Google Sheets. Below is the shortcut for both Mac OS and Windows users:

• Mac OS: Command + Shift + =

• Windows: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + =

Note that you can add a column left or a row above, depending on which you select in the sheet.

1. Open your Google Sheet.

To begin, open your Google Sheet or create a new one and enter your data.

2. Highlight the column adjacent to where you want a new column.

Next, highlight the column that is directly to the right or left of the place you want to insert a new column. 

3. Navigate to the "Insert" menu.

Then, click the Insert menu tab, and a list of options will appear.

4. Hover over the "Columns" option. 

When you hover over the Columns option, you will see two options appear to the right of the Insert > Columns button. These options will read Insert 1 column left and Insert 1 column right. You will then choose which side of the highlighted column you want to add the new column to.

5. Customize your Google Sheets column width.

Once you've added the new column, you can customize the width of the column according to your data requirements. Adjust the width of the new column by hovering your cursor over the right-side boundary of the column header. When the cursor changes to a double-sided arrow, click and drag to resize the column width.

Read more: How to Add in Google Sheets: SUM and MINUS Formulas

Common errors when adding spreadsheet columns in Google Sheets

When adding columns to Google Sheets, you may experience errors related to cell references or formulas. If you are using cell references for formulas in your Google Sheet, review and adjust your formulas' formatting to reflect new reference ranges or column numbers. A missing cell reference may lead to a “#REF!” warning, while a “#NAME?” means that the range you specified no longer exists or is misspelled.

How to add multiple columns in Google Sheets

You may also want to add multiple rows or columns in Google Sheets at the same time. For columns, you follow the above steps but highlight several columns rather than just one. You will then have the option to insert the same number of columns as you highlighted. 

How to insert multiple rows in Google Sheets

To insert multiple rows, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheets document.

2. Select the row below where you want the new rows to appear.

3. If you need to insert more than one row, select as many rows as you need. For example, select seven existing rows if you need to insert seven rows.

4. Right-click on the highlighted rows.

5. In the drop-down menu that appears, click Insert rows above or Insert rows below as per your requirement. This will insert the same number of rows you selected in step three. For example, we highlighted seven rows in the instance shown below, so the menu options were updated to Insert 7 rows above or Insert 7 rows below.

Get more Google Sheets guides and free data management resources

Stay ahead of trends in your career field by subscribing to Career Chat and learning more about how to optimize your use of spreadsheets. Plus, access more tutorials for Google Sheets and additional helpful data resources:

• Visualize your data: How to Make a Graph in Google Sheets

• Use a formula: How to Use the Google Sheet 'IF-THEN' Formula

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Data Analyst

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.