If you’ve ever pasted data onto an Excel spreadsheet from an external source, you’ve probably faced the frustration of superfluous blank rows and columns. No matter the reason for your blank cells, they can interfere with your ability to make calculations and sort/filter accurately.

Individually deleting each blank row or column is possible, but it’s extremely time consuming if you have more than a few. Instead, follow these quick instructions for pain-free removal:

1. From the Home tab, click Find & Select button in the Editing section.
2. Select Go To Special.
3. Click the radio button for Blanks and click OK.

Now, with the blank cells highlighted, click Delete in the Cells section of the Home tab, and select Delete Sheet Rows. (If you need to delete blank columns, select Delete Sheet Columns.)

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