How to Merge Cells in Excel Easily and Effectively

Ready to give your spreadsheet a polished look? Merging cells in Excel is a simple way to create clean titles and organized layouts. Just select the cells you want to combine, go to the Home tab, and choose Merge & Center or Merge Cells under the Alignment group. Merge & Center combines cells and centers the content, while Merge Cells merges them without changing alignment. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to merge cells in Excel step by step, explore different merging options, discover methods to merge without losing data, understand common issues and fixes, and apply best practices for professional-looking spreadsheets. 

Excel skills are crucial for data-driven roles, and mastering formulas like multiplication improves efficiency. To advance further, explore Data Science courses that build analytical expertise and introduce techniques that complement Excel for smarter data handling and better decision-making. 

 

What Does Merging Cells Mean in Excel? 

Merging cells in Excel means combining two or more adjacent cells into a single, larger cell. This feature is widely used for formatting and organizing data. For example: 

• Titles and Headings: Center a title across multiple columns for a clean look. 
• Reports and Dashboards: Create visually appealing layouts. 
• Data Presentation: Group related information for better readability. 

However, when you merge cells in Excel, you need to be cautious. Improper merging can lead to issues like data loss or alignment problems. If you’re wondering how to merge two cells in Excel or even how to merge cells in Excel with data, understanding the right techniques is essential before you start. 

Different Ways to Merge Cells in Excel 

Excel offers multiple methods to merge cells, each suited for different formatting needs. If you’re wondering how to merge cells in Excel or even how to merge two cells in Excel, here are the most common options:

Using the Merge & Center Option 

This method is perfect for creating centered titles across multiple columns, giving your sheet a clean and professional look. It’s the most commonly used option when formatting headers in reports or dashboards. 

Steps: 

1. Select the cells you want to merge. 
2. Go to Home → Alignment group → Merge & Center. 

Result: Combines selected cells into one and centers the text. 
Best for: Titles or headings across multiple columns. 

Merge Across 

Ideal for row-wise merging, this option keeps each row separate while combining cells horizontally. It’s useful for structured layouts where you need alignment without merging everything into one big cell. 

Steps: 

1. Select multiple rows and columns. 
2. Click the dropdown under Merge & Center → Choose Merge Across. 

Result: Merges cells in each row individually without combining all into one. 
Best for: Row-wise merging in reports or dashboards. 

Merge Cells 

This option merges selected cells without centering the text, preserving your original alignment. It’s best when you want a combined cell but prefer left or right-aligned content for design consistency. 

Steps: 

1. Select the cells. 
2. Choose Merge Cells from the dropdown. 

Result: Combines cells without centering text. 
Best for: When you want merged cells but keep text alignment unchanged. 

Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging 

Using shortcuts like Alt + H + M + C speeds up your workflow, especially for repetitive tasks. It’s a time-saver for anyone frequently merging cells while working on large spreadsheets. 

Shortcut: 
Press Alt + H + M + C for Merge & Center. 

Why use it? 
Speeds up formatting tasks, especially when you frequently perform how to merge two cells data in Excel operations. 

How to Merge Cells in Excel Without Losing Data 

When you merge cells in Excel, only the content from the upper-left cell is retained by default. If you’re wondering how to merge cells in Excel without losing data, you need to combine the text first using formulas. Here are three effective methods with examples: 

Using CONCATENATE 

CONCATENATE joins text from multiple cells into one string. It’s best for simple merges but does not ignore empty cells. 

Formula:  =CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1)

Example: 

If A1 = John and B1 = Doe, the formula returns:  

John Doe 

Ideal when learning how to merge data from two cells in Excel for reports or dashboards. 

Using TEXTJOIN (Excel 2016 and Later) 

TEXTJOIN is more flexible, allowing you to merge multiple cells and ignore blanks. Perfect for how to merge data of two cells in Excel or even larger ranges. 

Formula:  =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A1:B1)

 Example: 

If A1 = New and B1 = York, the formula returns:  

New York 

TEXTJOIN is ideal for combining long ranges because it skips blank cells and lets you choose a delimiter like space or comma. 

Using Ampersand (&) 

A quick way to combine text before merging cells. This method is commonly used when you need how to merge two cells data in Excel without losing any information. 

Formula:  =A1 & " " & B1

Example: 

If A1 = Hello and B1 = World,the formula returns:  

Hello World 

Ampersand is the fastest method for merging text and works in all Excel versions, making it great for quick, simple tasks. 

Pro Tip: After combining data using these formulas, you can safely merge the cells for formatting purposes. 

Common Issues and How to Fix Them 

While learning how to merge cells in Excel, you may encounter a few challenges. Here are the most common issues and their solutions: 

Data Loss 

When merging, Excel keeps only the upper-left cell’s content. To avoid losing information, use formulas like CONCATENATE, TEXTJOIN, or the Ampersand (&) method before merging. 

Sorting Problems 

Merged cells can disrupt sorting and filtering in tables. Instead of merging, use Center Across Selection for better flexibility without breaking table functionality. 

Undo Merge 

If you need to reverse a merge, select the merged cell → go to the Merge dropdown → click Unmerge Cells. This restores individual cells. 

How to Find Merged Cells in Excel 

To locate merged cells quickly: 

• Press Ctrl + F → Click Options → Check Match entire cell contents. 
• Alternatively, use Go To Special → Merged Cells to highlight all merged cells in the sheet. 

Best Practices for Merging Cells in Excel 

While learning how to merge cells in Excel, following best practices ensures your spreadsheets remain functional and easy to manage: 

• Avoid Merging in Structured Tables: Merged cells can disrupt sorting and filtering. Instead, use Center Across Selection for better flexibility. 
• Keep Formatting Consistent: Apply uniform font size, alignment, and borders across merged cells for a professional look. 
• Use Merging Sparingly: Overusing merged cells can make data editing difficult. Limit merging to titles, headers, or visual grouping. 
• Combine Data Before Merging: If you need how to merge cells in Excel with data, use formulas like CONCATENATE or TEXTJOIN first to prevent data loss. 
• Test for Compatibility: Merged cells can affect formulas and references. Double-check calculations after merging. 

By following these tips, you’ll maintain both aesthetics and functionality in your Excel sheets. 

Conclusion 

Learning how to merge cells in Excel is mainly about balancing looks with function. Use merging for titles, headers, and clean layouts, but protect your data by combining text first and avoiding merges inside tables. When in doubt, prefer Center Across Selection, it keeps structure intact while achieving polished alignment.