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How to Flip a Table in Excel & Google Sheets

This tutorial demonstrates how to flip a table in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

fliptable intro

 

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.

  1. Once the data is formatted as a normal range, select the entire range.
  2. Then, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Clipboard > Copy or press Ctl + C.

 

fliptable copy

 

  1. Then click in the cell where you wish your flipped table to be pasted and, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Clipboard > Paste Special.

 

fliptable paste special

 

  1. Select Transpose and then click OK.

 

fliptable transpose

 

  1. Your table is now flipped so that the rows data is now in columns, and the column data is now in rows!

 

fliptable flipped table

 

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.

  1. 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.

 

fliptable helper column

 

  1. Click in the column, and then, in the Ribbon, go to Home > Editing > Sort & Filter > Sort Largest to Smallest.

 

fliptable sort largest smallest

 

  1. Your rows are now sorted in reverse order.

 

fliptable sorted largest smallest

 

  1. You can then delete the helper column.

Flip a Table Horizontally

To switch the columns around, add a helper row, and then sort horizontally.

  1. In the row above your table, add a helper row filled with serial numbers starting from 1 and increasing by 1 in each column.

 

fliptable add row

 

  1. In the Ribbon, go to Home > Editing > Sort & Filter > Custom Sort.

 

fliptable custom sort

 

  1. In the Sort dialog box, click Options.

 

fliptable sort options

 

  1. Select Sort left to right as the Orientation, and then click OK.

 

fliptable sort left to right

 

  1. 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.

 

fliptable sort row1

 

  1. Click OK to sort. The order of the columns in your table is now reversed.

 

fliptable sorted columns

 

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

  1. Select your data, and then, in the Menu, go to Edit > Copy or press Ctrl + C.

 

fliptable gs copy

 

  1. Select the cell where you want to paste your data, and then, in the Menu, go to Edit > Paste Special > Transposed.

 

fliptable gs transposed

 

  1. Your data is now pasted with the table information flipped.

 

fliptable gs flipped table

 

Flip a Table Vertically

  1. Add a helper column to your table.

 

fliptable gs helper column

 

  1. Then, highlight the entire table and in the Menu, go to Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options.

 

fliptable gs sorting options

 

  1. 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.

 

fliptable gs custom sort

 

  1. As with Excel, your data is sorted in the reverse of your original data.

 

fliptable gs custom sorted

 

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.

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