How to Add Columns on Google Sheets

Co-authored by Marc Crabbé and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 Tested

Using a Computer

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Using the Mobile App

|

Q&A

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a blank column to the right or left of a column in Google Sheets. You can do this on both the desktop and the mobile app versions of Google Sheets.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Computer

1
Open the Google Sheets page. Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets in your browser. This will open the Google Sheets dashboard if you're logged into your Google account.
- If you aren't logged into your Google account, you'll need to enter your email address and password when prompted before continuing.
2
Select a spreadsheet. Click the name of the spreadsheet to which you want to add columns. Doing so opens the spreadsheet.
- If you want to create a new spreadsheet instead, just click Blank in the upper-left side of the page.
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3
Select a column. Click the letter of the column next to which you want to add a column. For example, if you want to add a column to the right of the "A" column, you'd click the A heading.

EXPERT TIP

"The easiest way to add a new column in Google Sheets is to select a column, then right-click and insert a column to the right or left."

Marc Crabbé
Google Suite Expert
Marc is a translator and International Project Manager, who has been working in Google Suite for project management since 2011.

Marc Crabbé
Google Suite Expert
4
Click Insert. This tab is in the upper-left side of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
5
Click Column left or Column right. Both options are at the top of the Insert drop-down menu. Doing so will insert a blank column either to the left or to the right of your currently selected column.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

1
Open Google Sheets. Tap the Google Sheets app icon, which resembles a green-and-white spreadsheet grid, to do so. This will open your Google Sheets dashboard if you're logged into your Google account.
- If you aren't logged into your Google account, tap SIGN IN, select an account, and enter your password if prompted.
2
Select a spreadsheet. Tap the spreadsheet to which you want to add columns in order to open it in Google Sheets.
- You can also tap
  and then tap New spreadsheet to make a new spreadsheet.
3
Select a column. Tap the letter at the top of a column (or any cell in the column) to select it as the column next to which you want to add a blank column.
4
Tap ＋. It's in the top-right corner of the screen. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
5
Tap Column left or Column right. Both options are near the top of the drop-down menu. Doing so will add a column either to the left or to the right of your currently selected column.
- On Android, tap Insert 1 column left or Insert 1 column right here instead.
- You may have to scroll down through the drop-down menu to find these options.

Community Q&A

Question

What would one do to create columns of unequal width?

Community Answer

First, create a normal column. Then, on the top bar, find the edges of the column. Then, click on one of them, and drag until they are the wanted length.