Merging cells in Google Sheets means combining two or more adjacent cells into one larger cell. This is helpful when you want to make your spreadsheet look neat and organized. What’s even more exciting is that you can merge cells horizontally (side by side) or vertically (one on top of the other).
Imagine you have a table with a title that spans across several columns. Merging cells allows you to make that title look like a single, cohesive unit. This makes your spreadsheet easier to read and understand.
In today’s guide, we will show you how to merge cells in Google Sheets either horizontally or vertically. Not just that, we will also touch on some additional things you need to know when merging cells in Google Sheets.
But before we delve any further, let’s understand exactly what merging cells in Google Sheets entails.
Related: How to Find Merged Cells in Google Sheets
Cell Merging In Google Sheets: What Is It?
Imagine you’re the wizard of your Google Sheets kingdom, and you want to make your spreadsheet look extra fabulous. Well, merging cells is the magical spell you need.
Merging cells in Google Sheets is like taking puzzle pieces and turning them into a single, bigger piece without changing the other puzzle pieces around. It’s like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle but for your data.
Now, here’s the fun part. Google Sheets gives you three fantastic merging options. Let’s quickly look at each of these options so you get the bigger picture.
- Merge All: This combines a bunch of cells into one big cell. It’s like merging your tiny Lego blocks into a giant Lego castle.
- Merge Horizontally: This joins cells side by side, like linking train cars. It’s perfect when you want to stretch a title or text across multiple cells, making it look super stylish.
- Merge Vertically: Imagine stacking your cells on top of each other to create one tall tower. That’s what merging vertically does. It’s great for making neat categories or crafting cool dashboard designs.
But wait, there’s a magical distinction to remember:
- Merging cells is like taking a snapshot of the first cell so only its contents remain. It’s like freezing a moment in time.
- Merging text, on the other hand, keeps all the words intact. You can even perform cool tricks like using the JOIN function to combine text from different cells.
Copy Sample Sheets
To get hands-on experience with merging cells in Google Sheets, you can follow along using the sample data we’ve provided. Click the link below to copy it.
However, if you have your own spreadsheet, don’t worry. You can replicate these steps with your own data.
How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets Horizontally
In this section, we’re going to dive deep into the enchanting world of merging cells horizontally. But don’t worry, we’re going to take it step by step, making it as easy as pie.
Imagine you have a table with a title that’s spread across multiple columns, and you want to make it look sleek and cohesive. That’s where horizontal cell merging comes in handy. It’s like arranging a bunch of building blocks to create a single, impressive structure.
To make things crystal clear, we’re going to use a sample dataset to demonstrate how to merge cells in Google Sheets horizontally.
Here is the sample data we will use to show you how to merge cells in Google Sheets horizontally:
With our sample data figured out, let’s quickly show you the step-by-step process of merging cells in Google Sheets horizontally.
Step 1: Highlight the Cells You Want to Merge
The first thing we want to do is highlight the cells we would like to merge, which is pretty straightforward.
All you need to do is hold your mouse button and drag it to select all the cells you want to merge.
For this example, we will select cell B5, which contains First Quarter, Cell C5 and cell D5.
Step 2: Format > Merge Cells
Now that you’ve highlighted the cells you want to merge, it’s time to perform the actual merge using Google Sheets’ built-in formatting tools. Here’s how:
- Look at the top of your Google Sheets window. You’ll see a menu bar with various options. Click on the “Format” menu.
- A dropdown menu will appear. Scroll down and find the option that says “Merge cells.” Click on it to reveal additional choices.
From the “Merge cells” submenu, you’ll see three options:
- Merge All: This option merges the cells both horizontally and vertically, creating one large cell that covers the selected range entirely.
- Vertically: This choice merges the cells into one cell, stacking them on top of each other. It’s ideal for making a tall header or combining data in a column.
- Merge Horizontally: This option merges the selected cells into a single cell, joining them side by side. This is perfect for creating a wide header or title that spans multiple columns.
Since we want to merge our cells horizontally to create a neat “First Quarter” header, click on “Merge horizontally.”
The steps explained above will merge all of the three cells we highlighted earlier. So, if you followed the steps exactly as we described, your spreadsheet should look something like this:
Alternative Method to Merge Cells in Google Sheets Horizontally
If the steps we covered in the previous step seem a bit complicated, don’t worry. There’s another user-friendly way to access the merge options through the toolbar in Google Sheets.
Simply look at the top of your Google Sheets interface, and you’ll spot a handy ‘Merge cells’ icon. Clicking this icon will instantly merge all the selected cells together.
Note: If you click on the small drop-down arrow located right next to the merge button, a world of options will unfold before you.
You’ll find choices for merging horizontally, which means combining cells side by side, or merging vertically, which stacks cells on top of each other. This alternative method provides you with quick access to all the merging magic you need.
How To Merge Cells In Google Sheets Vertically
In the previous section, we learned how to merge cells horizontally in Google Sheets. We successfully combined cells like “First Quarter” (Cell B5), cell C5, and cell D5 to create a unified header. We used the ‘Format > Merge Cells > Merge Horizontally’ method to achieve this, making our data more organised and visually appealing.
Now, let’s explore another exciting technique: Merging cells in Google Sheets vertically.
Just like we did for horizontal merging, we can also merge cells vertically in Google Sheets. This method is perfect for creating taller headers or combining data in a column.
Even though we’ll use the same sample data we’ve been working with to illustrate this, we will make some small changes.
Here is what it should look like:
Are you ready to dive into the world of vertical cell merging? Let’s get started.
Step 1: Highlight the Cells You Want to Merge
Before we can perform the magic of merging cells vertically in Google Sheets, we need to select the cells we want to combine. In this example, we’ll highlight cells B6 and B7, cells C6 and C7, cells D6 and D7.
Here is what it should look like:
Step 2: Format > Merge Cells > Vertically
Now that you’ve highlighted the cells you want to merge vertically, it’s time to perform the magic trick of merging them using Google Sheets’ formatting options. This will create a taller, unified header for your data. Here is how to do it:
- Go up to the “Format” menu at the top of your Google Sheets screen. A list of cool options will appear. Scroll down all the way to the bottom of this list.
- Look for the “Merge cells” option and give it a click. A new set of options will pop up. Among these, select “Merge vertically.”
If you followed the steps exactly as we detailed above, the selected cells should be instantly merged. Here, take a look at what ours looks like:
Alternative Method for Merging Cells Vertically
If the steps we detailed above seem somewhat complicated, you can simplify the entire process using this alternative option.
Start by selecting the cells you’d like to merge vertically. With the cells highlighted, navigate through the Google Sheets interface to find the Merge cells icon.
Click on the dropdown arrow next to the Merge cells icon and select the option for Merge vertically.
Here is what your spreadsheet should look like once you click the Merge cells icon:
Now, that’s how easy it is to merge cells in Google Sheets vertically.
Final Thoughts
Merging cells in Google Sheets might sound somewhat complicated, especially for beginners. But guess what? In today’s guide, we have simplified the entire process.
We started off with horizontal merging, where you learned to join cells side by side, creating wide and stylish headers or titles that span multiple columns.
We also took things further by discussing how to merge cells in Google Sheets vertically. In this section, we showed you the art of stacking cells on top of each other. Knowing this helps you to create taller headers, enhancing the clarity and structure of your sheet.
Remember, if one method seems a bit tricky, you have an alternative route. You can access the merge options right from the toolbar, making the process even more user-friendly.
Whether you’re extending titles, categorising data, or building impressive dashboards, cell merging in Google Sheets is your trusty wand to make your data presentations truly magical.