In the finance world, Excel is where the technical work gets done, and keyboard shortcuts are your cheat codes. Few things are more frustrating than spending hours in Excel, clicking through menus with your mouse, only to see a colleague complete the same work in half the time, blazing through with multiple tips and tricks. Whether you're a student creating your first financial model, an Analyst or Associate engaged in valuation work, mastering Excel efficiency is a necessity to succeed in finance.This article aims to be your ultimate Excel Shortcut Guide, specifically designed for finance professionals using the latest version of Excel for PC, which is what most consultancy firms and investment banks typically use. Think of this as the companion to our Excel Tutorial: Tips and Tricks — but with a focus on providing a comprehensive list of Excel shortcuts.We start with Alt shortcuts. These are the gateway drugs of efficiency. Easy to learn, no memorisation required. Then we graduate to the Class A shortcuts, Ctrl and Function keys. These take a little more effort to memorise but pay off with unmatched speed.I had initially planned to highlight the most common shortcuts I’ve used during my career, but as it turned out, most of them are worth knowing. Each one may save only a few seconds, but those seconds add up, especially when working to deadlines.

Tip for laptop users: Unfortunately, some shortcuts may be more complicated on laptops, as they often require the Fn key to be used in conjunction with the shortcut. Most notably, this applies when using function keys (F1 to F12) and the Page Up and Page Down keys.

Alt Shortcuts – the Gateway to Shortcuts

Alt shortcuts are the perfect entry point to improving your efficiency in Excel. You don’t have to memorise anything more than using the Alt key to get started. Just tap Alt, and Excel lights up with letter hints across the ribbon (at the top of the screen). For example, press Alt + H to open the Home tab, or Alt + F to access the File tab, and so on. You can navigate and perform nearly all tasks using the Alt keys, dramatically speeding up formatting, inserting charts, tables, or working with data.

Ctrl Shortcuts

Ctrl shortcuts are the high-performance engine of efficiency in Excel. Unlike Alt shortcuts, Ctrl commands require memorisation and consistent use to understand their utility. However, once learnt and embedded in muscle memory, they provide the next level of speed and efficiency.

Tips:

1. Bookmark this page. Start with a few shortcuts and build them into muscle memory through practice. Refer to this page and increase your repertoire with time.

2. Ctrl shortcuts have patterns. Try to group them in your mind initially to learn them quicker. For example:

Ctrl + C/X/V Copy/Cut/Paste

Ctrl + Arrow Keys Jump around data fast

Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Move around while selecting multiple cells quickly

Workbook & File Management

Ctrl + NNew workbookCtrl + OOpen workbookCtrl + SSave workbookCtrl + PPrintCtrl + F4Close the workbook window.Ctrl + WClose the current workbook.Ctrl + TabSwitch between open workbooks.

Navigation

Ctrl + Arrow KeyMove to the edge of the data regionCtrl + HomeGo to cell A1Ctrl + EndGo to the last used cell.Ctrl + Page UpMove to previous worksheet (tab)Ctrl + Page DownMove to the following worksheet (tab)Ctrl + G / F5Go To dialogCtrl + BackspaceReturn to active cell.Ctrl + Go to precedent cells.Ctrl + ]Go to dependent cells.Ctrl + Shift + Arrow KeyExtend selection to the edge of the region.Ctrl + Shift + HomeExtend selection to the beginning of the sheet.Ctrl + Shift + EndExtend selection to the last used cell.

Selection & Structure

Ctrl + ASelect all / current sectionCtrl + SpaceSelect columnShift + SpaceSelect rowCtrl + Shift + *Select current sectionCtrl + Shift + Page UpSelect previous worksheet (tab)Ctrl + Shift + Page DownSelect the following worksheet (tab)

Editing

Ctrl + CCopyCtrl + XCutCtrl + VPasteCtrl + Alt + VPaste Special (then use the letters on screen to select the type of paste)Ctrl + ZUndoCtrl + YRedoCtrl + DFill downCtrl + RFill rightCtrl + EnterFill selected cells with active cell entry.Ctrl + ;Insert current dateCtrl + Shift + :Insert current timeCtrl + Shift + "Copy the value from aboveCtrl + Shift + 'Copy the formula from above.

Formatting

Ctrl + 1Format Cells dialogCtrl + BBoldCtrl + IItalicCtrl + UUnderlineCtrl + Shift + ~General formatCtrl + Shift + $Currency formatCtrl + Shift + %Percentage formatCtrl + Shift + #Date formatCtrl + Shift + @Time formatCtrl + Shift + ^Scientific formatCtrl + Shift + !Number formatCtrl + Shift + &Add border (full box on selected space)Ctrl + Shift + _Remove borderCtrl + TCreate a table

Rows, Columns, and Sheets

Ctrl + "+"Insert cell/row/column (may require shift key on some keyboards)Ctrl + "-"Delete cell/row/columnCtrl + 0Hide columnCtrl + 9Hide rowCtrl + Shift + 0Unhide column (Windows setting required)Ctrl + Shift + 9Unhide row

Formula & Function Tools

Ctrl + `Show/hide formulasCtrl + Shift + UExpand/collapse the formula bar.Ctrl + Shift + F3Create names from the selection.Ctrl + KInsert hyperlinkCtrl + QQuick Analysis Tool

Display & Interface

Ctrl + F1Show/hide ribbonCtrl + 6Show/hide objectsCtrl + 8Show/hide outline symbols.Function keys F1 through F12 are often overlooked, but they can also save a significant amount of time in Excel. In the same way as Ctrl shortcuts, they will need to be memorised, but will provide the quickest way to achieve an outcome in Excel. F1Open Excel Help paneCtrl + F1Show or hide the Ribbon.Alt + F1Create a chart from the current data in the same sheet.Alt + Shift + F1Insert a new worksheet. F2 Edit the active cell.Ctrl + F2 Print PreviewShift + F2 Add or edit cell comment (or note in newer Excel versions) F3 Paste Name (if defined names exist)Shift + F3 Insert function dialog F4 Repeat last actionCtrl + F4 Close current workbook windowAlt + F4 Close ExcelF4 (while editing formula) Cycle through absolute/relative references (e.g., D2 → $D$2) F5 Go To dialog boxCtrl + F5 Restore the window size of the workbook if maximised. F6 Move between panes, the Ribbon, the task pane, and the zoom controlsShift + F6 Move in the reverse directionCtrl + F6 Move to next workbook windowCtrl + Shift + F6 Move to previous workbook window F7 Spell checkCtrl + F7 Move the workbook window (when not maximised) F8 Turn on extended selection modeShift + F8 Add to selection without holding ShiftCtrl + F8 Resize the workbook window (when not maximised) F9 Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks (when in manual calculation mode)Shift + F9 Calculate the active worksheet only.Ctrl + Alt + F9 Force complete calculation of all formulas in all worksheetsCtrl + Alt + Shift + F9 Forced recalculation of all formulas (including numbers that previously did not change, e.g. dependence tree) F10 Activate menu bar (same as Alt)Shift + F10 Display right-click context menuCtrl + F10 Maximize or restore the workbook windowF11 Create a chart from the current data in a new sheetAlt + F11 Open Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor F12 Open Save As dialogCtrl + F12 Open File dialogShift + F12 Save workbook (same as Ctrl + S)Ctrl + Shift + F12 Print (same as Ctrl + P) I hope you find this guide helpful! Comment with your favourite shortcuts or add any you think that I’ve missed!