How To Merge Cells In Google Sheets

In this article, we’ll learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets. We’ll also see the different options of merging cells in Google Sheets.

By default, the cells in a spreadsheet are equal in length and width. However, sometimes you may need to merge two or more cells. This is usually required for the headers in a spreadsheet. The headers may span more than one column or row. To apply proper formatting, you will need to merge these cells.

Consider the spreadsheet Sales Report, as shown in the image below. Suppose you need to format the headers such that the first header would span columns from B to F. Similarly, for the second header we need to span it from column B to F. This can be done by merging cells.

After we merge these cells, we would be able to apply further formatting to the headers. So let’s get started and learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

As you can see, the headers span many cells. If we do not merge these cells, then we couldn’t format the headers the way we want. Let’s assume we want our spreadsheet to look like this:

final-sheet

The headers can be formatted in this way only if we merge the columns and rows that it span. Now, if you’re curious to learn, then go through the tutorial. After you read the tutorial, you’ll be able to produce the same result.

How should we go about this problem?

We’ll start with our Sales Report spreadsheet. We’ll start merging cells for the main heading and then we’ll move on to the sub-heading.

 

The Different Merge Options in Google Sheets

Google Sheets offers three different options for merging cells. Let’s see what these different options are all about.

Merge all

The Merge all option merges all the cells into one big cell as illustrated in the image below. However, this option works only for a contiguous range of cells.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

Merge horizontally

The Merge horizontally option merges all the cells in a row into a single cell as shown in the image below. However, when you have selected only one row then Merge all and Merge horizontally has the same effect.

merge-horizontally

Merge vertically

The Merge vertically option merges the cells in each selected column as shown in the image below. However, when you have selected only one column, then Merge all and Merge vertically has the same effect.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

Now as you’ve learned about different merge options in Google Sheets, let’s apply them to our spreadsheet.

 

How to Merge Cells In Google Sheets on Desktop

In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets on a desktop. This tutorial is followed by another tutorial that demonstrates merging cells in Google Sheets on a mobile. So, let’s dive straight into the tutorial.

 

  1. We will use our Sales report spreadsheet to learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

 

  1. Let’s start with our main heading, “ABC Corporations”.  We would like our main heading to span the columns from B to F. Also, we would like to merge row 1 and row 2. Therefore, we will select the desired region.

highlight-cells

 

  1. Now, from the top menu, select Format.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

 

  1. In the Format menu, navigate to Merge cells.

merge-cells

 

  1. In the Merge cells menu, click on Merge all.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

 

  1. We’ve successfully merged the selected region as one big cell.

merge-all

 

  1. Now, let’s move to our subheading ‘Sales report for the quarter ended on 30/4/2020’. We would like this sub-heading to span columns from B to F. We will select the desired region.

merge-cells-in-google-sheets

 

  1. We’ll repeat Steps 3 to 5 to merge these cells.

repeat-steps

 

  1. Moreover, we would like to merge cells in range A1:A4 as one cell. We will select this region as.

merge-columns

 

  1. We will repeat Steps 3 to 5. However, we’ll be using Merge vertically this time. We are doing this for demonstration purposes only, otherwise, Merge all can produce the same result.

merge-all

 

  1. We’re done with merging the columns in our spreadsheet. However, we would format the headers in our spreadsheet so that they appear even better. This step is optional.final-sheet

 

We have seen merging cells in Google Sheets on the desktop. Now let’s move on to the tutorial about merging cells in Google Sheets on Mobile.

 

How to Merge Cells In Google Sheets on Mobile

In this tutorial, we’ll work with a blank spreadsheet and learn how to merge cells while you’re using Google Sheets app on your iPhone or Android phone.

 

  1. Go to Google Sheets app on your phone and proceed to a blank spreadsheet.

mobile-view

 

  1. Select multiple cells to merge them. For making a selection on mobile phones, drag the corners of the blue highlight box.mobile-view

 

 

  1. Now to merge cells, you need to tap on the merge cells icon in the menu.

mobile version

 

  1. After you press the merge cells icon, Google Sheets will merge the selected cells.

 

Voila! You’ve learned how to merge cells in Google Sheets on desktop as well as on the mobile phone. Check out our other numerous Google Sheets formulas to create even more complex and useful functions in Google Sheets.

 

 

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