How to Unpivot Data in Excel
Reshape a wide cross-tab — one column per month or category — into a flat, tidy table that PivotTables and charts actually like.
Last updated: August 2026
| Region | Jan | Feb | Region | Month | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 100 | 120 | → | East | Jan | 100 |
| West | 90 | 110 | → | East | Feb | 120 |
| West | Jan | 90 |
Method 1 — Power Query (built into Excel 2016+)
- Click inside the table and go to Data → From Table/Range to open the Power Query Editor.
- Hold Ctrl and select the identifier columns you want to keep (e.g. Region).
- Right-click a selected column and choose Unpivot Other Columns. The month columns collapse into Attribute and Value.
- Rename the columns if you like, then Home → Close & Load to drop the flat table onto a new sheet.
Power Query is powerful but it's a multi-step, query-and-refresh detour — overkill for a one-off reshape, and a lot to teach a spreadsheet-first colleague.
The 1-click way — Tellsheet's Unpivot
Select the table, click Unpivot, and tell Tellsheet how many leading columns describe each row. It writes the flat Attribute/Value table to a new sheet — so your original cross-tab is never touched — with a preview first. No queries to record, refresh, or explain.
Frequently asked questions
What does "unpivot" mean?
It reshapes a wide cross-tab (one column per category) into a tall, tidy table with one row per value. That flat shape is exactly what PivotTables, charts, and lookups work best with.
Can I unpivot without Power Query?
Yes — Tellsheet's Unpivot reshapes the selected table in one click and writes the result to a new sheet, with no query steps to maintain or refresh.
How do I keep more than one identifier column?
In Power Query, select all the identifier columns before choosing Unpivot Other Columns. In Tellsheet, just set the number of leading columns to keep and repeat.
Related Excel guides
Unpivot in one click
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