How to Strikethrough in Excel: Windows, Mac, & Web

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Apply the strikethrough font in Excel with a shortcut or menus

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using a Keyboard Shortcut
|
• Using Cell Formatting

|Show more |Show less

Want to cross out text in Microsoft Excel? You can use the strikethrough effect (a line through your text) to do so. This can be done whether you're using the computer application or the online version in your web browser. Here's how to strikethrough in Excel using your Windows or Mac computer.

Strikethrough a Cell in Excel

To strikethrough text in Excel, select the cells you want to edit, and then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac). If you're using the web version, select the cells you want to edit and right-click them. Then, select Format Cells > Strikethrough.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

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1. 
   1
   Open your spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. You can usually do this by double-clicking the file name on your computer.

   • This method will work on Windows and Mac computers. If you're using the web version, you'll need to use cell formatting instead.
2. 
   2
   Highlight the text you want to format. You can select an entire cell, multiple cells, or just some of the text within a single cell.
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3. 
   3
   Press Ctrl+5. The selected text now appears crossed-out like this.

   • To remove this effect, select the text, and then use the keyboard shortcut once more.
   • You may need to use ⌘ Command+↑+X on some computers instead of Ctrl+5.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Cell Formatting

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1. 
   1
   Highlight the cells containing text you want to format. If you only want to use strikethrough on some of the text within a cell, see this method instead.

   • This method will work in any version of Excel, including the free version on the web.
2. 
   2
   Right-click the highlighted area. A menu will appear.
3. 
   3
   Click Format Cells. The Format Cells dialog box will appear.
4. 
   4
   Click the Font tab. It’s near the top of the dialog box.
5. 
   5
   Check the box next to “Strikethrough.” It’s in the “Effects” section.
6. 
   6
   Click OK. This crosses-out the values of the selected cells. The text within the cells now appears crossed-out like this.

   • To remove this effect, return to the Format Cells dialog box, remove the check mark from "Strikethrough," and then click OK.
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