How to delete every alternate row in Excel: A step-step guide

In this article, let's understand how to remove every other row in Excel. This can be useful for data cleaning and organizing your spreadsheet efficiently. The process involves using a helper column to identify alternate rows, filtering those rows, and then deleting them all at once.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to achieve this:

Step 1: Create a Helper Column‍‍

First, we need a helper column to identify every other row. You can do this by entering a sequence of zeros and ones.

1. In an empty column next to your data, type 0 in the first cell and 1 in the second cell.
2. Select both cells and drag the fill handle down to the end of your data. This will create an alternating pattern of zeros and ones.

Alternatively, you can use the following formula to generate this pattern:

Copy code =MOD(ROW(), 2)

This formula returns 0 for even rows and 1 for odd rows, helping us to distinguish between them.

Step 2: Apply the Filter

Next, we need to filter the rows based on our helper column values.

1. Select any cell within your helper column.
2. Go to the Data tab on the ribbon, and click on the Filter button in the Sort & Filter group. This adds a drop-down arrow to each header cell.
3. Click the drop-down arrow in the helper column header and filter by either 0 or 1, depending on which rows you want to delete. For example, to delete even rows, filter by 0.
   

Step 3: Delete the Filtered Rows

Once the rows are filtered:

1. Select all the visible rows (those with the filtered value).
2. Right-click on the selection and choose Delete Row from the context menu.

Step 4: Remove the Filter and the Helper Column

After deleting the rows, you need to clear the filter to see the remaining data.

1. Click on the Filter button again in the Data tab to remove the filter.
2. Delete the helper column since it's no longer needed.

Result

Now, only the rows you wanted to keep are visible, and the unwanted alternate rows are removed.‍

Tip

If you prefer to move every other row instead of deleting them, you can first copy the filtered rows and paste them into a new location before deleting them.

By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and clean your Excel data by removing alternate rows. This method helps in maintaining a clean and organized spreadsheet, making data analysis easier.