Select the column, right-click it, and choose Hide. To hide several columns that are not next to each other, hold Ctrl while you select each one first. A double line between column headings marks where columns are hidden, and selecting the columns either side and choosing Unhide brings them back.
Before you start: what hiding does and doesn't do
- Hiding takes a column out of view and out of what you print, which is why Microsoft describes it as a way to show only the data you need to see or print.
- The data stays in the workbook. Nothing is deleted, so you can bring it back whenever you like.
- You can select more than one column first, and they don't have to be next to each other if you hold Ctrl as you click.
- Rows work in the same way, so everything below applies if you need to hide rows instead.
It's a handy trick for tidying a sheet before you share it or print it. The steps below follow Microsoft's page on how to hide or show rows or columns.
The steps to hide a column
- Select the column or columns you want to hide by clicking the column letters.
- For columns that aren't next to each other, hold Ctrl while you click each letter.
- Right-click one of the selected columns and choose Hide.
- Glance back at the headings afterwards. A doubled line now sits where the column used to be.
That double line is the thing to remember, because it's the only clue left on the sheet. If you ever open a workbook and a column letter seems to be missing from the sequence, look for the double line.
What you'll see afterwards, and how to get the columns back
Hide column C, say, and the letters jump from B to D with a marker between them. Whatever was in column C hasn't gone anywhere. It just isn't on show any more, which is why this is a tidy-up tool and not a delete.
Getting them back is just as quick. Highlight the neighbouring columns on each side of the gap, right-click, and pick Unhide. Prefer to skip the menu? Double-click the double line in the headings and the missing column reappears.
The catch most people hit
Hiding is not protection. A hidden column is easy to reveal, because anyone who selects the columns either side can choose Unhide, or double-click the double line. If a column holds something you really don't want other people seeing, don't rely on Hide to keep it private.
The other catch is about expectations. Hiding changes what you see and what you print, and that's all it does, so don't treat a tidy-looking sheet as proof that the columns behind it have been dealt with. If you need a column gone for good, that's a different job from hiding it.
A sensible habit is to glance at the headings before you send a workbook to anyone. A double line takes a second to spot, and it saves the awkward moment when someone asks why the letters jump from B to D, or why a total seems to include figures they can't see.
Hiding rows works the same way
Need rows out of the way instead? Highlight them, right-click, and pick Hide. You'll spot the same kind of marker between the row numbers, and the rows return when you select the ones around them and pick Unhide. Once you've decided which columns stay visible, the guides to adding a column in Excel and the SUBTOTAL function are sensible next stops.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I hide columns that aren't next to each other?
Hold Ctrl and click each letter you are after, then right-click any of them and pick Hide. It's handy for tidying a wide sheet before it goes to print, because the scattered columns vanish in a single move.
How can I tell whether a column is hidden?
Scan the lettered strip along the top of the sheet. A missing letter in the run, with a thin double line sitting in its place, gives it away.
Does hiding a column delete the data in it?
No. Hiding only removes the column from view and from print, and the data stays in the workbook until you decide to remove it.
What's the quickest way to unhide a column?
Highlight the neighbours either side, then use the Unhide option in the right-click menu. Double-clicking the marker between the lettered headings works too, with no menu at all.
Can I use the same steps for rows?
Yes, rows behave the same way, with Hide waiting in the right-click menu. Bringing them back follows the pattern you already know from columns.
Is a hidden column safe from other people?
Not really, since anyone can select either side and choose Unhide. Treat Hide as a tidying tool rather than a privacy setting.
