The strikethrough shortcut in Excel is Ctrl + 5. Select one or more cells and press it: a line goes through the text, the usual way to mark a task done or an item cancelled while keeping it readable. Press Ctrl + 5 again to remove the line.
Excel uses a different key from Word here, which confuses many people. In Word the shortcut is a ribbon sequence, while Excel has this single combination. On a Mac, Excel uses Command + Shift + X.
Quick facts
Strike through
Ctrl + 5Remove it
Ctrl + 5 againPart of a cell
F2, select, then Ctrl + 5Format Cells way
Ctrl + 1, then Alt + KMac
Command + Shift + XNumber pad 5
Does not work; use the top row
Strikethrough shortcut in Excel, step by step
- Select the cell, or several cells, with the text to cross out.
- Press Ctrl + 5, using the 5 on the top row of letters.
- A line appears through the text. The value and any formulas stay unchanged.
The line is formatting only. Totals and lookups still count the cell as if nothing happened, so strike out is for showing status, not for removing a number from a calculation.
Strike out shortcut keys in Excel and similar programs
| Program | Keys |
|---|---|
| Excel for Windows | Ctrl + 5 |
| Excel, through Format Cells | Ctrl + 1, Alt + K, Enter |
| Excel for Mac | Command + Shift + X |
| Word for Windows | Alt, then H, then 4 |
The Word method and other text programs are covered on the strikethrough shortcut key page.
Strike out only part of a cell
To cross out one word in a cell that holds a sentence, press F2 to edit the cell, select the word with Shift and the arrow keys, then press Ctrl + 5. Press Enter to finish. The rest of the text stays normal.
Automatic strikethrough when a task is done
For a to do list with a Status column, conditional formatting can strike out a row by itself. Select the rows, open Conditional Formatting with Alt, H, L, N, choose Use a formula, enter a rule such as =$C2="Done", click Format and tick Strikethrough. Each time someone types Done, the row is crossed out.
When Ctrl + 5 does not strike through
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens | Use the 5 on the top row, not the number pad |
| Only some cells change | Cells with mixed formatting toggle separately; press again |
| Line disappears on the next row | You formatted one cell; select all the cells first |
| Sheet is protected | Formatting is locked; unprotect it |
Strikethrough versus deleting or hiding
Crossing out keeps a record that something existed, which auditors and teammates often need: a cancelled order, a paid bill, a finished task. Deleting removes the history, and hiding makes the row invisible, so people may not know it was ever there. Use strikethrough when the information should still be seen, and hide or move rows to another sheet only when the list becomes too long to read.
More Excel formatting keys
Colour and borders are in fill color and borders. Hiding finished rows instead of striking them is covered in hide in Excel, and the full key list sits on the Excel shortcut keys page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the strikethrough shortcut in Excel?
How do I remove strikethrough in Excel?
Select the cell and press Ctrl + 5 again.
What is the strike out shortcut in Excel for Mac?
Can I strike through part of a cell?
Yes. Press F2, select the words, then Ctrl + 5.
Does strikethrough change the value?
No. It is only formatting; formulas still use the value.
Why does Ctrl + 5 not work?
Use the 5 on the top row; the number pad 5 is not accepted.