6 Excel keyboard shortcuts I use every day that most people have never tried

When you use Excel day in and day out, even small improvements can make a big difference. And the best way to get there is by making the most of the keyboard shortcuts. Sure, you may already be using some of these shortcuts to get around, select cells, and do basic formatting, but there are plenty more.

For me, there are a few Excel keyboard shortcuts I genuinely regret discovering late. They are easy to remember and save me so much time every day.

Insert date and time

Never type dates manually again

If you use Excel to log entries, track updates, or simply keep records, inserting date and time is something you likely do often. Of course, Excel lets you simply type them in manually, but using keyboard shortcuts is much quicker.

These shortcuts add the system date and time in the correct format, so you don’t have to worry about formatting issues. If you need to add date and time together, press Ctrl + ;, followed by Space, then Ctrl + Shift + ;. That’s it.

Formatting shortcuts

Clean up messy data like a pro

No Excel spreadsheet is complete without proper formatting. While you may already be using the common shortcuts like Ctrl + B to bold and Ctrl + 1 for the Format Cells dialog, there are a few lesser-known ones that can help format your data in seconds.

You simply need to select the cell and press the relevant shortcut to apply the formatting. If you’re working on financial data, for instance, Ctrl + Shift + $ applies a clean currency format. The same goes for percentages, dates, and time. You can also combine these with F4 to repeat the last action. Format one cell, move to another, then press F4. This is handy when you’re cleaning up scattered data.

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Create PivotTable

Summarize data in seconds

PivotTables are great for summarizing data and building quick reports without actually writing complex formulas. But instead of heading to the Insert tab every time you need to create one, you can use these shortcuts:

The Alt, N, V, T shortcut is the one you’ll need the most. Once Excel opens the PivotTable dialog, you can create your summary table as usual.

Apply or remove filter

Filter smarter, not harder

Filters are a lifesaver when you’re working on large datasets in Excel. Instead of scrolling through rows endlessly, you can narrow things down in seconds. Even better, you don’t need to touch your mouse to enable them.

To start, select your header row or any cell within the data, then press Ctrl + Shift + L. Once filters are enabled, you can use Alt + Down arrow to open the filter dropdown menu and navigate options using the arrow keys. It’s that easy.

Insert or delete rows and columns

Make room for data

No matter what you use Excel for, adding and removing rows and columns is something you do all the time. But if you’re still using the right-click menu to do it, you’re doing it the hard way. Instead, use these shortcuts:

You can combine these with selection shortcuts. For instance, you can press Shift + Space to select a row, then hit Ctrl + Shift + + to insert a new one above it. The same idea works for columns. Press Ctrl + Space to select a column, then use Ctrl + Shift + + to insert a new one. This can save you a lot of time when you want to add multiple rows and columns in seconds.

Mastering the Alt key shortcuts

The secret to faster Excel navigation

If there’s one key that unlocks dozens of handy shortcuts, it’s Alt. Press it once, and you’ll see little letters appear across the ribbon. These are called Key Tips, and they let you navigate the entire interface with just your keyboard.

What makes these special is that you don’t have to memorize them. You’re simply navigating the ribbon. For instance, Alt + H takes you to the Home tab, and the next keys drill down into specific commands.

Using these Alt shortcuts might feel a bit slower than clicking around at first. But after a while, you’ll be able to move through Excel faster than ever.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. Excel is full of such amazing keyboard shortcuts that can change the way you work. Of course, you don’t need to memorize all of them. Like me, you can simply start with the ones you need daily and build from there.