Flipping data with TRANSPOSE

1 / 4

The months run down column A, from May. Turn the table on its side so they run across, starting in D1.

keyboard Typing formulas is easiest on a computer with a keyboard.

A1
ABCDEFGHIJK
1MonthSales
2May750
3Jun3525
4Jul5925
5Aug5850
6Sep2225
7Oct3975
8
9
10
11
12
7 rows, 2 columns
2 rows, 7 columns
Type to enter a value or a formula starting with =. F2 edits, F4 adds $ to a reference.
Study notes

How TRANSPOSE works

  • What does TRANSPOSE do?

    It turns a table on its side: rows become columns and columns become rows. A list running down column A comes out running across row 1.

    =TRANSPOSE(A1:B7)

  • What does "spill" mean?

    TRANSPOSE returns a whole range, not one value. You type it in one cell and Excel fills the cells beside and below by itself. This is called spilling, and the spilled cells show a thin blue border in Excel. Change the original table and the flipped copy updates.

  • What is #SPILL!?

    The cells the result needs must be empty. If anything is in the way, even a space, the formula shows #SPILL! until you clear it.

  • How is it different from Paste Special?

    Copy, then Paste Special with Transpose ticked, makes a one-off copy that never updates. TRANSPOSE stays linked to the original. In Excel before 365 it had to be entered over the whole range with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

  • Can I transpose without a formula on this site?

    Yes: the Table Workspace has a Transpose step for whole files.

Know someone fighting with a spreadsheet? Send them this page.