How to Flip a Table in Excel & Google Sheets
This tutorial demonstrates how to flip a table in Excel and Google Sheets.
Flip Rows and Columns in a Table
You can transpose data in Excel as long as the data is in a normal range and not in a table. If your data is formatted as a table, you must first convert the data to a normal range before you can flip the table’s rows and columns.
- Once the data is formatted as a normal range, select the entire range.
- Then, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Clipboard > Copy or press Ctl + C.
- Then click in the cell where you wish your flipped table to be pasted and, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Clipboard > Paste Special.
- Select Transpose and then click OK.
- Your table is now flipped so that the rows data is now in columns, and the column data is now in rows!
Flip a Table Vertically
You can reverse the order of data in the rows of your table by using a “helper” column to determine the order of your data.
- Add a helper column to the right side of your table filled with serial numbers starting from 1 and increasing by 1 in each row.
- Click in the column, and then, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Editing > Sort & Filter > Sort Largest to Smallest.
- Your rows are now sorted in reverse order.
- You can then delete the helper column.
Flip a Table Horizontally
To switch the columns around, add a helper row, and then sort horizontally.
- In the row above your table, add a helper row filled with serial numbers starting from 1 and increasing by 1 in each column.
- In the Ribbon, go to Home > Editing > Sort & Filter > Custom Sort.
- In the Sort dialog box, click Options.
- Select Sort left to right as the Orientation, and then click OK.
- In the Sort dialog box, choose to Sort by Row 1. Then, choose Cell Values in the Sort On drop down and then Largest to Smallest in the Order drop down.
- Click OK to sort. The order of the columns in your table is now reversed.
Flip a Table in Google Sheets
You can flip your table in Google in the same way as you can do it in Excel.
Flip Rows and Columns
- Select your data, and then, in the Menu, go to Edit > Copy or press Ctrl + C.
- Select the cell where you want to paste your data, and then, in the Menu, go to Edit > Paste Special > Transposed.
- Your data is now pasted with the table information flipped.
Flip a Table Vertically
- Add a helper column to your table.
- Then, highlight the entire table and in the Menu, go to Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options.
- In the Sort range dialog box, tick Data has header row and then choose the column to sort by (Order). Then, choose to sort Z→A and click Sort.
- As with Excel, your data is sorted in the reverse of your original data.
While Google Sheets does not have the same ability as Excel to flip a table horizontally, you can use the Transpose feature to achieve a similar result.