How to Strikethrough in Excel
The fastest ways to cross out text in Microsoft Excel: keyboard shortcuts, Format Cells menus, Quick Access Toolbar, and automatic checkbox conditional formatting.
Windows Shortcut
Select any cell or range of cells and press Ctrl + 5. To remove the strikethrough, press Ctrl + 5 again.
Mac / macOS Shortcut
On Excel for Mac, press ⌘ + Shift + X. You can also press Cmd + 1 to open Format Cells.
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)
The quickest way to strikethrough in Excel is using the built-in hotkey:
- Windows: Ctrl + 5
- Mac: Cmd + Shift + X
Pro-tip for partial cell text: If you only want to cross out a single word within a cell (e.g. crossing out "$100" in "Was $100 Now $75"), double-click the cell or click into the formula bar at the top, highlight only the target word with your mouse, and press Ctrl + 5.
Method 2: Format Cells Dialog Box
If your keyboard does not have a number row or you prefer using dialog menus:
- Select the cells you want to format.
- Press Ctrl + 1 (or Cmd + 1 on Mac) to open the Format Cells window.
- Switch to the Font tab.
- Under Effects, check the box labeled Strikethrough.
- Click OK.
Method 3: Add Strikethrough to Quick Access Toolbar
By default, the Excel ribbon does not have a dedicated Strikethrough button on the Home tab. You can pin one to your Quick Access Toolbar (top-left corner):
- Click the small down-arrow at the top left of Excel (Quick Access Toolbar menu).
- Click More Commands...
- Under Choose commands from, select Commands Not in the Ribbon.
- Scroll down and select Strikethrough.
- Click Add >>, then click OK.
Now you have a 1-click Strikethrough button permanently visible!
Method 4: Automatic Strikethrough with Checkboxes (Interactive To-Do List)
One of the most popular spreadsheet workflows is automatically crossing out tasks when a checkbox is ticked:
- Insert Checkbox: Go to the Developer tab (or Insert > Checkbox in newer Excel versions) and place a checkbox in Column B next to your task in Column A.
- Link the Checkbox: Right-click the checkbox > Format Control > set Cell link to
$B$2. When checked, the cell value isTRUE. - Apply Conditional Formatting:
- Select your task cell (e.g.
A2). - Click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
- Select "Use a formula to determine which cells to format".
- Enter the formula:
=$B2=TRUE - Click Format... > Font tab > check Strikethrough > set font color to muted gray.
- Click OK.
- Select your task cell (e.g.
Now, whenever you click the checkbox, your task in Column A is automatically crossed out and dimmed!
Topic Cluster
Cross-Platform Strikethrough Guides
Looking for shortcuts and instructions for other software and chat applications?
Google Docs Strikethrough
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Microsoft Word Strikethrough
Ribbon access keys, Font dialog, double strike, and custom shortcut setup.
Excel Strikethrough Guide
Ctrl+5 shortcut, Format Cells, and checkbox conditional formatting.
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~~Tilde~~ markdown, bold strike, spoilers, and code block solutions.
WhatsApp Strikethrough Guide
~Tilde~ syntax, bold strike, and crossed-out text for WhatsApp About status.
All Keyboard Shortcuts
Complete cross-platform cheatsheet for Windows, Mac, and web apps.
Excel FAQs
Common questions about formulas, Web Excel, and troubleshooting shortcuts.
What is the fastest keyboard shortcut to strikethrough in Excel?
The fastest shortcut is Ctrl + 5 on Windows and Cmd + Shift + X on Mac. It works instantly on an entire selected cell, a range of rows/columns, or highlighted text within the formula bar.
How do I automatically strike through completed tasks when checking a checkbox in Excel?
Link your checkbox to a cell (e.g., cell B2 becomes TRUE or FALSE). Next, select the task cell (A2), click Conditional Formatting > New Rule > "Use a formula to determine which cells to format". Enter the formula =$B2=TRUE, click Format, open the Font tab, check Strikethrough, and click OK. Now, whenever the checkbox is ticked, the task is automatically struck through!
Can I strikethrough only part of a cell in Excel?
Yes. Double-click the cell (or press F2) to enter edit mode, highlight only the specific word or characters you want to cross out with your mouse or Shift + arrows, and press Ctrl + 5. Only the highlighted characters will be struck through.
Why does Ctrl + 5 not work on my Excel on Mac?
Excel for Mac uses Cmd + Shift + X for strikethrough instead of Ctrl + 5. If that shortcut is intercepted by another system utility on macOS, right-click the cell, click Format Cells (Cmd + 1), go to Font, and tick Strikethrough.