How to Insert a Line in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, the term "insert a line" can refer to a few different actions. The most common interpretations include inserting a newline within a cell, inserting a new row in the sheet, or inserting a drawing line shape. Below, we explain each method to address these possibilities.

Inserting a Newline Within a Cell

Often, when people ask how to "insert a line," they mean adding a line break within a single cell to format text neatly across multiple lines. This is useful for lists, addresses, or detailed descriptions within one cell.

To insert a newline (or line break) within a cell:

• Place your cursor in the cell where you want to add the break.
• Type the text you want on the first line.
• Press the shortcut to insert the line break.
  • On Windows, press Ctrl + Enter.
  • On Mac, press ⌘ + Return.
  • Reference: As noted on 14-Sept-2024, press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or ⌘+Return (Mac) to add a newline.
• Continue typing the text for the next line. You can repeat this shortcut multiple times to add more lines within the same cell.

Note that when a cell contains multiple lines, Google Sheets automatically adjusts the row height to fit the content.

Inserting a New Row in the Sheet

Another frequent interpretation is adding a new row to separate data or add more entries.

You can insert a new row using the right-click context menu or the 'Insert' menu:

Using the Context Menu

1. Select a cell in the row above or below where you want the new row to appear.
2. Right-click on the selected cell.
3. From the context menu, choose either:
   • Insert 1 row above
   • Insert 1 row below
   • (You can also select multiple rows before right-clicking to insert multiple rows at once).

Using the Insert Menu

1. Go to the Insert menu at the top of the screen.
2. Hover over Rows.
3. Select either:
   • 1 row above
   • 1 row below
   • (You can select a row header first to activate options like 'row above' or 'row below').

A new, empty row will be inserted at your specified location.

Inserting a Drawing Line (Shape)

If you want to add a visual line, perhaps to separate sections graphically or as a design element, you can use the drawing tool.

1. Go to the Insert menu.
2. Select Drawing.
3. In the drawing window, click the Line icon (it looks like a diagonal line).
4. Choose the type of line you want to insert (e.g., Simple Line, Arrow, Connector, Curve, Polyline, Scribble).
5. Click and drag on the drawing canvas to draw your line.
6. You can customize the line's color, thickness, style (solid, dashed), and endpoints using the options that appear after you draw it.
7. Click Save and Close to insert the drawing line into your sheet.

Here’s a quick summary of the main methods:

Action	Method / Shortcut	Description
Newline within a Cell	Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or ⌘ + Return (Mac)	Breaks text onto a new line inside the cell.
Insert a New Row	Right-click > Insert row OR Insert > Rows	Adds a completely new row to the spreadsheet.
Insert a Drawing Line	Insert > Drawing > Line tool	Adds a graphical line element.

Choosing the correct method depends on what kind of "line" you intend to insert in your Google Sheet.