How to Merge Cells in Excel (and a Better Alternative)
Merging cells turns several cells into one big one — handy for a title that spans across a table. But merged cells also cause some of the most frustrating problems in Excel. Here's how to merge, how to unmerge, and the trick many experienced users prefer.
Merge cells
1. Select the cells you want to merge — for example, A1:F1 for a title across six columns.
2. Go to Home.
3. Click Merge & Center.
2. Go to Home.
3. Click Merge & Center.
The cells become one, and the text is centred.
Click the arrow next to Merge & Center for more options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Merge & Center | Merges into one cell and centres the text |
| Merge Across | Merges each selected row separately (useful for several rows at once) |
| Merge Cells | Merges without centring |
| Unmerge Cells | Splits a merged cell back into normal cells |
Warning: merging deletes data
If more than one of the cells has something in it, Excel only keeps the value in the top-left cell. Everything else is deleted — Excel warns you first, so read the message before clicking OK.
To keep everything, combine the text into one cell first (see below).
Why many people avoid merging
Merged cells look fine, but they get in the way:
• Sorting fails with "To do this, all the merged cells need to be the same size."
• Filtering often misses rows.
• Copying and pasting into or out of merged areas is awkward.
• Selecting a column grabs neighbouring columns too.
• Rows with merged cells won't auto-fit their height.
• Filtering often misses rows.
• Copying and pasting into or out of merged areas is awkward.
• Selecting a column grabs neighbouring columns too.
• Rows with merged cells won't auto-fit their height.
The better way: Center Across Selection
This makes text look exactly like it's merged — but the cells stay separate, so none of the problems above happen.
1. Select the cells, for example A1:F1 (put the text in A1).
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells.
3. Click the Alignment tab.
4. Under Horizontal, choose Center Across Selection.
5. Click OK.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells.
3. Click the Alignment tab.
4. Under Horizontal, choose Center Across Selection.
5. Click OK.
The title sits centred across A1:F1, and you can still click on each cell individually.
Note: it works across columns only, not down rows.
Combine text from two cells instead
If what you really want is to join the contents of cells — like first and last names — use a formula instead of merging:
=A2&" "&B2
This joins A2 and B2 with a space in between. You can also use:
=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A2:C2)
which joins a range and skips empty cells.
Once it looks right, copy the column and use Paste Special > Values if you want plain text rather than formulas.
Unmerge cells
1. Select the merged cell.
2. Click the arrow next to Merge & Center and choose Unmerge Cells (or just click Merge & Center again).
2. Click the arrow next to Merge & Center and choose Unmerge Cells (or just click Merge & Center again).
To find every merged cell on a sheet, press Ctrl + F, click Options > Format…, tick Merge cells on the Alignment tab, and click Find All.
Wrapping up
Merge & Center is fine for a title above a table. Anywhere inside your data, use Center Across Selection instead — it looks the same and keeps sorting and filtering working.
