To merge cells in Excel, select the cells you want to combine and then use the Merge & Center function on the Home tab.
Steps to Merge Cells
Here's a detailed breakdown of how to merge cells in Excel:
- Select the Cells: Click and drag your mouse to select the cells you want to merge.
- Navigate to the Home Tab: Ensure you are on the "Home" tab in the Excel ribbon.
- Find the Alignment Group: Look for the "Alignment" group within the Home tab.
- Click Merge & Center: Click the "Merge & Center" button. This will merge the selected cells into one larger cell, and center the content within the merged cell.
Alternative Merge Options
Clicking the dropdown arrow next to "Merge & Center" reveals other options:
- Merge Across: Merges cells in each row of your selection.
- Merge Cells: Merges the selected cells into one cell, but does not center the content.
- Unmerge Cells: Separates a previously merged cell back into individual cells.
Important Considerations
- Data Retention: When you merge cells, only the data in the upper-leftmost cell is retained. All other data in the selected cells will be deleted. Ensure that the cell containing the data you wish to keep is in the upper-left position.
- Tables: If the "Merge & Center" option is dimmed, it might be because you're editing a cell or the cells you're trying to merge are part of an Excel table. Excel tables typically do not support merging cells. You may need to convert the table to a range first (Table Design tab > Tools group > Convert to Range).
- Alignment: After merging, you can still adjust the alignment of the text using the standard alignment options (left, center, right, top, middle, bottom) found in the "Alignment" group on the "Home" tab.
Example
Let's say you have the following in cells A1:B1:
| Cell | Content |
|---|---|
| A1 | Product Name |
| B1 | Description |
If you select A1 and B1, then click "Merge & Center", cells A1 and B1 will become one merged cell (A1), and the content "Product Name" will be centered within it. The content of B1 ("Description") will be lost.
