How to Insert Blank Every Other Row in Excel & Google Sheets

This tutorial demonstrates how to insert a blank row after every other row in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

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Insert a Blank Every Other Row

To insert a blank every other row (or every 3rd, 4th, or nth row), follow these steps:

  1. First, create a helper column. Enter 1 and 2 in the first two cells (G2 and G3), then drag down the fill handle to the last cell (G10).

 

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  1. After you’ve filled the helper column with numbers, select all of them, right-click the selection, and choose Copy (or use the CTRL + C shortcut).

 

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  1. To paste the range, select the first empty cell in the helper column (G11), right-click it, and choose Paste (or use the CTRL + V shortcut).

Note: If you want to insert two or more blank rows between existing rows just copy and paste the helper column list two or more times below the last cell.

 

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  1. Now, select the data from the helper column and in the Ribbon, go to Home > Sort & Filter > Sort Smallest to Largest.

 

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  1. In the Sort Warning window, press Sort.

 

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As a result, a space between each row appears.

 

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  1. To delete the helper column, select the data, right-click it, and choose Delete.

 

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As a result, you get alternating data rows and blanks.

 

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See also: VBA Insert Row or Column.

Insert Blank Every Other Row in Google Sheets

  1. To insert blank every other row in Google Sheets, first create a helper column. In the helper column, enter 1 and 2 in the starting cells (F1 and F2). Drag down the fill handle to the last cell (F9).

 

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  1. Select all numbers in the helper column, right-click them, and choose Copy (or use the CTRL + C shortcut).

 

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  1. Then, select the first empty cell in the helper column (F10), right-click it (2), and choose Paste (or use the CTRL + V shortcut).

 

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  1. Select all data in the helper column (F1:F18).

 

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  1. In the Menu, go to Data > Sort sheet by column F, A → Z.

 

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As a result, blank rows appear between the existing ones. Now, you just need to delete the helper column.

 

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  1. To delete the helper column, select the data from the column, right-click it, and choose the Delete column.

 

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Now, you have alternating data rows and blanks.

 

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You can always delete the blank rows later to make the worksheet more compatible with calculations.