When working in Google Sheets, you may want to merge cells vertically to make your data easier to read or to create a cleaner layout. Vertical merging combines multiple cells in a column into a single cell, which is useful for labels, headers, or grouping data.
This guide will show you exactly how to merge cells vertically in Google Sheets, along with tips for formatting and troubleshooting.
Why Merge Cells Vertically in Google Sheets?
Vertical merging is useful for:
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Creating grouped headers for multiple rows
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Making tables look cleaner and easier to read
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Aligning text across multiple rows
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Improving the visual appeal of reports or dashboards
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Organizing data for presentations or printouts
By merging cells, you can present information more clearly without duplicating text.
Step 1: Open Your Google Sheet
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Open Google Sheets in your browser.
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Open an existing spreadsheet or create a new one.
Ensure that the cells you want to merge are in the same column and contain the content you want to display.
Step 2: Select the Cells to Merge Vertically
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Click the first cell in the column you want to merge.
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Drag down to select all the cells you want to combine.
Make sure the cells are contiguous (next to each other vertically).
Step 3: Use the Merge Tool
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With the cells selected, go to the toolbar at the top.
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Click the Merge cells icon (it looks like a rectangle with arrows pointing toward each other).
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From the dropdown menu, select Merge vertically.
Your selected cells will now become a single vertical cell, displaying the content from the top-most cell.
Step 4: Adjust Alignment (Optional)
After merging, you may want to adjust how the text appears:
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Select the merged cell.
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Click the Vertical align icon in the toolbar.
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Choose Top, Middle, or Bottom to position the text inside the cell.
Proper alignment ensures your merged cells look neat and professional.
Tips for Merging Cells Vertically in Google Sheets
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Only the top-most cell’s content will remain; all other data in the selected cells will be deleted.
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Avoid merging cells that are part of formulas, as this may break calculations.
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You can unmerge cells anytime by selecting the merged cell and clicking Format → Merge cells → Unmerge.
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Use vertical merging sparingly in large datasets to maintain flexibility and sorting functionality.
Final Thoughts
Merging cells vertically in Google Sheets is a simple but powerful way to organize your data, create clear headers, and make your spreadsheets more visually appealing. With just a few clicks, you can combine multiple cells, adjust text alignment, and improve the readability of your tables.