Excel alignment shortcuts

• Release Feb 1, 2022Update Aug 24, 2022
• Written in Excel for Microsoft 365 version 2202

Shortcuts to adjust the position of text within a cell are common operations used by many people. Aligning the text in a cell to the proper vertical and horizontal position improves the layout, creates a sense of unity, and makes the data easier to grasp. Many people use the mouse to adjust the position of this string. Being able to use shortcuts without using a mouse will improve your work efficiency and productivity, so please learn it here.

Shortcuts to perform alignments

Use the left-aligned shortcut

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + A + L

Mac
command + L

Use the right-aligned shortcut

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + A + R

Mac
None

Use the top-aligned shortcut

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + A + T

Mac
None

Use the middle-aligned shortcut

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + A + M

Mac
None

Use the bottom-aligned shortcut

Windows
Access key: Alt + H + A + B

Mac
None

Adjust the position in the Format Cells dialog box

Windows
Ctrl + 1
Access Key: Alt + H + F + M

Mac
command + 1 or control + 1

Use the left-aligned shortcut

Here is how to left-align using the shortcut.

Total Time: 1 minute

Select a cell

Select the cell you want to left-align.

Left-align text in a cell

Press Alt + H + A + L. Text in the cell is now left-aligned.

Use the center-aligned shortcut

In the figure above, the text in the cell in the active state is centered.

For information on how to center text in a cell, see the following article.

Shortcut key for center alignment in Excel

Use the right-aligned shortcut

Select the cell you want to align right-align.

Press Alt + H + A + R. The text in the cell is now right-aligned.

Use the top-aligned shortcut

Select the cell where you want the string to be over-aligned.

Press Alt + H + A + T. Text in the cell is now top-aligned.

Use the middle-aligned shortcut

Select the cell you want to center vertically.

Press Alt + H + A + M. The text in the cell is now centered vertically.

Use the bottom-aligned shortcut

Select the cell that contains the text you want to bottom-align.

Press Alt + H + A + B. The text in the cell is now bottom-aligned.

Adjust the position in the Format Cells dialog box

This section describes how to change the position of text in a cell in the Format Cells dialog box. This section uses left-alignment as an example.

Select the cells you wish to left-align.

Press Ctrl + 1 or Alt + H + F + M. The Format Cells dialog box appears.

Press A and select the Alignment tab.

Press Alt + H. Select LEFT (indent) with ↓ (Down Arrow key).

Press Enter. Confirm that LEFT (indent) is selected.

Press Enter. The text in the selected cell is now left-aligned.