How to Delete a Pivot Table in a Spreadsheet

What is a pivot table?

A pivot table is a data processing tool used in spreadsheet programs to arrange and summarize selected columns and rows of data. It allows users to transform large datasets into a more understandable and manageable format, making it easier to draw insights and make data-driven decisions. You don’t have to know any formulas or coding. Simply drag and drop the fields to create your pivot table.

What are pivot tables used for?

A pivot table can help you make comparisons and explore patterns and trends in your data in a user-friendly way. For example, people often use pivot tables to compare the sales performance of different channels, summarize annual business expenses, or get an employee headcount for separate departments.

How to delete a pivot table?

Below, we outline three common scenarios you may need to delete a pivot table for various data needs.

Scenario 1: Delete the pivot table and resulting data

1. Click on any cell in the Pivot Table.
2. Navigate to the "Select" option in the ribbon and select "Entire PivotTable".

Tip: Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + A" to select the entire Pivot Table quickly.

3. Press the "Delete" key.

Tip: If the pivot table resides on its own sheet, you can simply right-click on the tab at the bottom of the window and choose "Delete Sheet".

Scenario 2: Deleting the pivot table while preserving data

There are situations where you may need to retain the resulting data from a pivot table but eliminate the pivot table layout. This can be useful when sharing data with team members or clients for further analysis or reporting. Additionally, if your pivot table is causing your worksheet to become excessively large, deleting it can significantly reduce the file size.

1. Select the entire pivot table.
2. Press "Ctrl + C" to copy. Go to your desired location, navigate to the "Home" option in the ribbon and select "Paste" and "Value".

Scenario 3: Clearing results and rearranging pivot table fields

When you need to reorganize your analysis without losing the existing pivot table fields, follow these steps:

1. Select any cell in the pivot table. Navigate to the ribbon and choose "View Field List". You can review the current arrangement of fields in your pivot table from the side panel.

2. Choose the fields you want to include or exclude by selecting or deselecting them in the field list.
3. Reorder the fields by dragging them to the desired positions.

Note: Please avoid selecting the entire pivot table and pressing "Delete" or "Clear", as this action will permanently remove the entire pivot table.