ExcelInsider Team
For Excel users, rotating a table has several meanings, including rotating the data structure only, visually rotating by treating the table as a picture, and flipping or transposing the table. In most cases, you only want to change the orientation of rows and columns so that the table structure resembles a 90° or 180° turn.
If you want a 90° rotation, we can use Excel’s Transpose feature to flip the table data and then add a helper column to sort the data. For a 180° turn, you need to transpose or flip the sorted data again.
Steps to rotate an Excel table:
➤ Select your table range, right-click >> Table >> Convert to Range. Copy the table, right-click >> Paste Special >> Transpose >> Ok. Now that the rows have become columns, add a helper column and fill it with sequential numbers (1, 2, 3, …) in each row.
➤ Select the transposed table including the helper column. Go to the Data tab >> Sort. Choose the helper column to Sort By. In the Order box, choose Largest to Smallest to rotate counterclockwise.
➤ To rotate 180°, copy the table, right-click >> Paste Special >> Transpose >> Ok. Finally, highlight your table range again and press Ctrl + T to turn it back into a table.
This article covers all the methods for rotating a table by 90° and 180° angles using the Format feature, Transpose and Sort options, and Excel formulas.
Flip Table Data Using the Transpose Feature
In our dataset, we have table columns for products, regions, and sales for Q1 and Q2. We’ll rearrange our table data to mimic a visual rotation (90° or 180°) by reordering rows, columns, or both.
While transposing isn’t truly rotating table data, some Excel users refer to transposing as a form of rotation. Here, we’ll swap the places of columns and rows following the steps given below:
➤ As Excel doesn’t allow you to directly transpose a table, you need to convert the table into a range first. For this, select the table range, right-click on it, and click on the arrow sign beside the Table option. Choose Convert to Range.
➤ Select the entire range including headers. Press Ctrl + C to copy table data.
➤ Right-click on a blank cell where you want the rotated range and select Paste Special.
➤ In the Paste Special box, click on Transpose and press Ok.
➤ This will rotate the new dataset instantly, swapping rows with columns. Finally, select the transposed table and press Ctrl + T to turn it into a table again.
Visually Rotate a Table Using the Format Feature
When transferring an Excel table in an email or PowerPoint slide, this method is used to keep the table formatting intact. If you want to visually rotate the whole table for printing or visualization, follow the steps given below to treat the table as a picture:
➤ Select the table range and copy it using the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut.
➤ Right-click on an empty space in the sheet. Click on the arrow sign beside the Paste Special option.
➤ From the Other Paste Options group, click on the Picture (U) icon. Your table has now turned into an image you can freely rotate.
➤ Right-click on the pasted picture of the table and choose Size & Properties.
➤ As the Format Picture pane opens on the right side of your screen, go to the Rotation box under the Size group, and type a custom angle. We entered 10° in the box.
➤ Close the pane and check the final result:
Rotate Table Structure at a 90° Counterclockwise Angle
Unlike rotating a table as a picture (which only changes its appearance), this method reorganizes the actual data structure to simulate rotation. As a result, you’ll create a new table where the orientation of rows and columns resembles a 90° turn. Here’s how:
➤ Click and drag to highlight your entire table with headers, right-click >> Table >> Convert To Range. Now, copy the range using Ctrl + C .
➤ Right-click on a different cell where you want the rotated version. Click on Paste Special >> Transpose >> Ok.
➤ Now, depending on whether you want a 90° counterclockwise or clockwise rotation, select any of the methods given below:
Steps for a 90° Counterclockwise Rotation
➤ Create a helper column next to the transposed range, enter a sequence of numbers (1, 2, 3, 4…) in each row.
➤ Select the entire range including the helper column. Go to the Data tab and click on Sort.
➤ In the Sort box, uncheck the My Data Has Headers box if your first row isn’t the header row. Click on the Sort By drop-down and choose the helper column. Similarly, select Largest to Smallest from the Order drop-down. Press Ok.
➤ Your table is now rotated 90° counterclockwise. Delete or hide the helper column if needed. Select the range and press Ctrl + T to turn the range into a table.
Steps for a 90° Clockwise Rotation
➤ Create a helper row next to the transposed range and fill the row with sequential numbers in each column.
➤ Choose the entire range with the helper row, open the Data tab >> Sort.
➤ As the Sort dialog box appears, uncheck the My Data Has Headers box, and click on Options.
➤ From the Sort Options box, choose Sort Left to Right. Click Ok.
➤ Now, in the Sort By drop-down, select the helper row and click on Largest to Smallest in the Order drop-down. Press Ok.
➤ Finally, select the sorted data and press Ctrl + T to turn the range back into a table. Here’s the final table rotated 90° clockwise.
Rearrange Table Structure at a 180° Angle
When you turn a table by 180°, the entire table is mirrored both vertically and horizontally. For this, we’ll transpose the table, sort it using a helper column, and transpose it again. Here’s how to do it:
➤ Copy your table data, right-click >> Table >> Convert To Range.
➤ Right-click on the range, click on Paste Special >> Transpose >> Ok.
➤ Insert a numbering column (1, 2, 3, …) alongside the transposed range.
➤ Select the entire transposed dataset including the new column. Go to the Data tab >> Sort.
➤ In the Sort box, uncheck My Data Has Headers. Click on the Sort By drop-down and choose the new column. From the Order drop-down, select Largest to Smallest. Press Ok.
➤ Excel will now flip the transposed range upside down.
➤ Now, delete the helper column, copy this flipped transposed range, right-click on a different cell >> Paste Special >> Transpose >> Ok.
➤ Here’s the final result:
Rearrange Table Structure at a 180° Angle Using a Formula
Another way to rotate a table by 180° is to use an Excel formula with functions like INDEX, ROWS, COLUMNS, etc. However it only works for Excel 365 and 2021 versions. Also, it erases the original format of your table, including the header format. Let’s get to the steps:
➤ Select a blank cell where you want the rotated table (F1) and enter the following formula:
=VSTACK(CHOOSECOLS(A1:D1,4,3,2,1), CHOOSECOLS(A2:D10,4,3,2,1))
➤ Here, A1:D10 is our table range and A2:D10 is the range without the header row.. Replace the values according to your dataset. Press Enter.
➤ Now Excel will spill the rearranged data without the format. Press Ctrl + C copy the new range, right-click >> Paste Special >> Values >> Ok.
➤ To copy the table format, first, copy your original table range. Now, select the new data range, right-click >> Paste Special >> Formats >> Ok.
➤ Select the new formatted range and press Ctrl + T to convert it into a table.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to rotate text in a table cell?
Select the table or specific row/column to rotate. Go to the Home tab and click on the Orientation button in the Alignment group. Choose any of the given options such as, Rotate Text Up, Rotate Text Down, Angle Counterclockwise, Angle Clockwise, Vertical Text, etc..
How to flip an Excel table with a formula?
To flip or transpose an Excel table with a formula, select an empty cell in your sheet and enter the following formula in Excel 365 and 2021:
=TRANSPOSE(A1:D10)
Change A1:D10 to your original table range. Press Enter and Excel will spill the flipped table. However, the table format will be lost. To fix this, use the Paste Special feature to paste the new table as Values and then paste the main table on it as Formats.
Can you write vertically in Excel?
Yes, you can write vertically in Excel. For this, select the cell(s) where you want the vertical text. Go to the Home tab >> Alignment group >> Orientation >> Vertical Text. It will stack letters on top of each other.
Concluding Words
Choose any of the given methods depending on whether you want a flipped table, visually rotated table, or rearranged data in 90° or 180° angles. Once you’re done with the rotating, you can right-click on the helper column and press Delete to remove it. For Excel formulas, always paste your data in a different location as it will overwrite your data and return an error.
