Unpivot Columns to Rows in Excel Without Formulas
Learn how to convert columns to rows in Excel using Power Query, no formulas or transpose needed. Join 400,000+ learners! π

Leila Gharani
560.6K views β’ Sep 19, 2019

About this video
Join 400,000+ professionals in our courses here π https://link.xelplus.com/yt-d-all-courses
It sounds simple to just switch columns to rows in Microsoft Excel - basically transpose horizontal data to vertical. BUT you can't always use a simple transpose (neither the transpose feature nor the Transpose function) if you only need to transpose parts of your data set. Some columns, instead of all columns.
β¬οΈ DOWNLOAD the workbook here: https://pages.xelplus.com/unpivot-columns-to-rows-file
For example if you have a report in Excel with a list of months in the columns, it would be easier to analyze the data and create formulas or pivot tables on the data, If your data is in a tabular format. For each value field in the original report, we will get a new row. Since this involves unpivoting or transposing parts of the data, it can be difficult to achieve with Excel formulas.
This is where you can use Excel's "Get & Transform" feature - (also called Power Query). Get & Transform is available since Excel 2016. All you need to do is create a table or a named range from your source data and then unpivot the columns in the Power Query editor.
If some of the value cells in your report happen to be empty - the entire row will be removed in the final table. To keep empty cells, you need to replace the null value in Power Query with 0.
π What You'll Discover:
- How to transpose specific columns in Excel while preserving empty cells.
- Step-by-step guide to using Get & Transform (Power Query) for data manipulation.
- Tips for handling both table and range formats in Excel.
π©βπΌ Perfect for:
- Excel users looking for advanced data manipulation techniques.
- Anyone dealing with complex datasets that require selective transposition.
- Excel enthusiasts eager to explore the power of Get & Transform.
π Key Highlights:
- Transpose your data without losing sight of empty cells.
- Customize your data transposition for specific columns.
- Refresh your data dynamically with Power Query.
LINKS to related videos:
3 ways to transpose: https://youtu.be/yYVokk0NdiI
R1C1 trick to transpose: https://youtu.be/dF0cVRyC8c4
Unstack data: https://youtu.be/rscXNUlRsH0
β‘οΈ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtUOos_MwJa_Ewii-R3cJA/join
πβ Get the Official XelPlus MERCH: https://xelplus.creator-spring.com/
π Not sure which of my Excel courses fits best for you? Take the quiz: https://www.xelplus.com/course-quiz/
π₯ RESOURCES I recommend: https://www.xelplus.com/resources/
π©Letβs connect on social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgharani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xelplus
Note: This description contains affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, we will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the links. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#Excel
It sounds simple to just switch columns to rows in Microsoft Excel - basically transpose horizontal data to vertical. BUT you can't always use a simple transpose (neither the transpose feature nor the Transpose function) if you only need to transpose parts of your data set. Some columns, instead of all columns.
β¬οΈ DOWNLOAD the workbook here: https://pages.xelplus.com/unpivot-columns-to-rows-file
For example if you have a report in Excel with a list of months in the columns, it would be easier to analyze the data and create formulas or pivot tables on the data, If your data is in a tabular format. For each value field in the original report, we will get a new row. Since this involves unpivoting or transposing parts of the data, it can be difficult to achieve with Excel formulas.
This is where you can use Excel's "Get & Transform" feature - (also called Power Query). Get & Transform is available since Excel 2016. All you need to do is create a table or a named range from your source data and then unpivot the columns in the Power Query editor.
If some of the value cells in your report happen to be empty - the entire row will be removed in the final table. To keep empty cells, you need to replace the null value in Power Query with 0.
π What You'll Discover:
- How to transpose specific columns in Excel while preserving empty cells.
- Step-by-step guide to using Get & Transform (Power Query) for data manipulation.
- Tips for handling both table and range formats in Excel.
π©βπΌ Perfect for:
- Excel users looking for advanced data manipulation techniques.
- Anyone dealing with complex datasets that require selective transposition.
- Excel enthusiasts eager to explore the power of Get & Transform.
π Key Highlights:
- Transpose your data without losing sight of empty cells.
- Customize your data transposition for specific columns.
- Refresh your data dynamically with Power Query.
LINKS to related videos:
3 ways to transpose: https://youtu.be/yYVokk0NdiI
R1C1 trick to transpose: https://youtu.be/dF0cVRyC8c4
Unstack data: https://youtu.be/rscXNUlRsH0
β‘οΈ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtUOos_MwJa_Ewii-R3cJA/join
πβ Get the Official XelPlus MERCH: https://xelplus.creator-spring.com/
π Not sure which of my Excel courses fits best for you? Take the quiz: https://www.xelplus.com/course-quiz/
π₯ RESOURCES I recommend: https://www.xelplus.com/resources/
π©Letβs connect on social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgharani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xelplus
Note: This description contains affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, we will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the links. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#Excel
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Views
560.6K
Likes
12.4K
Duration
5:00
Published
Sep 19, 2019
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