Why Merge Cells?

Merging cells in Google Sheets can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. Here are a few examples:

1. Creating Headers and Labels: Merging cells  is useful for creating headers or labels for your data, making it easier to identify and organize different sections.
2. Combining Data: If you have related data that you want to group together, merging cells provides a convenient way to combine and present that information. For example, you can merge cells to display a total or summary of values in a specific range.
3. Data Formatting: When you merge cells, the formatting applied to the leftmost cell is extended to the merged cell. This means that if you have formatted the leftmost cell with specific font styles, colors, or borders, those formatting elements will be applied to the merged cell as well.
4. Creating Customized Tables: Merging cells allows you to create customized tables with varying cell sizes. You can merge cells to accommodate longer headings or to create cells that span multiple rows or columns, providing flexibility in organizing and presenting your data.
5. Printing: If you plan to print your spreadsheet, merging cells can help you fit more data onto a single page. By merging cells, you can reduce the amount of white space on your sheet and make it easier to read.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets

Follow the below steps to learn how to merge cells in google sheets horizontally and vertically.

How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets (Horizontally)

Here you’ll learn how to merge cells in google sheets horizontally via format option and toolbar.

Step 1: Select the cells you wish to merge

Click on the first cell you want to merge and drag your mouse to select the range of cells. The selected cells will be highlighted.

Step 2: Apply Merge Cells Horizontally

Navigate to the “Format” menu and select “Merge Cells”, then click on “Merge Horizontally” from the available options.

The above steps will merge the two cells, resulting as a single row.

Another method of  the merge the cells is via the toolbar. Once you select the ‘Merge cells’ icon in Google Sheets, it will automatically merge all the selected cells. Furthermore, by clicking on the adjacent drop-down icon, additional options will be displayed, including horizontal and vertical merging.

• Merge All: This option merges all the selected cells into one big merged cell.
• Merge Horizontally: This option merges the cells horizontally, combining them into a single row.
• Merge Vertically: This option merges the cells vertically, combining them into a single column.

 

Step 3: After Merging Horizontally, See the Result

Now, as you can see, after merging horizontally, the selected cells become one row.

How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets (Vertically)

Here you’ll learn how to merge cells in google sheets vertically via format option and toolbar.

Step 1: Select the cells you wish to merge

Click on the first cell you want to merge and drag your mouse to select the range of cells. The selected cells will be highlighted.

Step 2: Apply Merge Cells Vertically

Navigate to the “Format” menu and select “Merge Cells”, then click on “Merge Vertically” from the available options.

Step 3: After Merging Vertically, See the Result

Now, as you can see, after merging vertically, the selected cells become one column.

Conclusion

Merging cells in Google Sheets can be a powerful tool for organizing and presenting your data. Whether you want to combine information or create visually appealing headers, the merge cells feature provides a simple and effective solution.

Also Read: How to Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets

FAQs

1. Can I merge cells vertically in Google Sheets?

Yes, you can merge cells both horizontally and vertically in Google Sheets. Simply select the range of cells you want to merge and follow the steps mentioned earlier.

2. Can I sort or filter merged cells in Google Sheets?

No, you cannot directly sort or filter merged cells in Google Sheets. If you need to sort or filter your data, it’s recommended to unmerge the cells first.

3. Will merging cells affect the data in the merged cells?

When you merge cells, the content of the first cell in the range will be retained, and the content of the other cells will be discarded. It’s important to ensure that you select the appropriate cell as the primary cell before merging.