Download the practice workbook 👉 HERE and follow along.
If you’ve finished analyzing your data, leaving the Pivot Table in your Excel sheet can make things cluttered and confusing.
Plus, keeping unnecessary Pivot Tables can slow down Excel, especially if you’re working with large files.
Deleting them keeps your workbook clean and speeds up performance.
For an extensive guide on Pivot Tables in Excel, check out this article.
Option 1: Delete Only the Pivot Table (Keep the Data)
Need to get rid of the Pivot Table but keep the numbers it generated?
This method is perfect if you want to keep the results while removing the Pivot Table functionality.
Steps:
- Click anywhere inside the Pivot Table.
- Go to the PivotTable Analyze tab at the top of the screen.
- In the toolbar, click Select, and then choose Entire PivotTable.
- Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A (or Command + A on a Mac) to select the entire Pivot Table.
- Right-click inside the selection and choose Copy.
- Without clicking anywhere else, go to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon.
- In the Clipboard group, click the drop-down arrow under the Paste button.
- From the Paste Values section, select one of these options:
- Values (V): This pastes only the values (the actual numbers or text) without any formatting.
- Values & Number Formatting (A): This pastes the values along with any number formatting, such as currency symbols or percentage signs.
- Choose the one that fits your needs.
That’s it! The Pivot Table is now replaced by static values, and the summarized data remains in place.
💡 You can also paste the values anywhere else in the spreadsheet or even in another workbook.
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Option 2: Delete the Pivot Table and Its Data
To delete the Pivot Table and its summary data (but keep the source data) follow these steps.
Steps:
- Click anywhere inside the Pivot Table.
- Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A (or Command + A on a Mac) to select the entire Pivot Table.
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
This will delete the Pivot Table and all its data, but don’t worry—your original source data is safe and unchanged.
Option 3: Delete a Pivot Table by Removing the Entire Sheet
If your Pivot Table is on its own worksheet, the quickest way to remove it is by deleting the entire sheet.
This option is perfect if you don’t need anything else from that sheet.
Steps:
- Open the worksheet with your Pivot Table.
- Right-click on the sheet tab at the bottom.
- Select Delete.
This method deletes the whole sheet, including the Pivot Table and anything else on it.
If you don’t need the entire worksheet, this is the fastest solution to get rid of the Pivot Table and all its data at once.
Clear All vs. Deleting a Pivot Table
If you want to clean up your Pivot Table and start fresh without losing the table itself, the Clear All option is perfect for you.
It removes all the data, fields, and formatting but keeps the Pivot Table structure.
Think of it as a reset button for your table.
How to Clear a Pivot Table:
- Click anywhere inside the Pivot Table.
- Go to the PivotTable Analyze tab at the top.
- Click Clear > Clear All.
Now your Pivot Table is empty, but still there. It’s ready for new data whenever you are!
Why Use This? If you plan to reuse the Pivot Table and don’t want to recreate it, this option is a time-saver.
Want to Get the Most Out of Pivot Tables? Here’s How
Deleting a Pivot Table is just the beginning—imagine what you can do once you’ve mastered them. If you’re struggling with too much data, complicated reports, or endless manual updates, Pivot Tables could be your secret weapon.
In this comprehensive course Excel Pivot Table Essentials, you’ll learn how to:
- Turn massive data sets into easy-to-read summaries without the headache.
- Simplify calculations and reporting with just a few clicks.
- Save time by setting up dynamic reports that update automatically.
Don’t just delete Pivot Tables—take full control of your data analysis! Click here to unlock the power of Pivot Tables and transform the way you work in Excel.
Download the Workbook
Enhance your learning experience by downloading our workbook. Practice the techniques discussed in real-time and master how to delete a Pivot Table in Excel with hands-on examples.
Download the workbook here and start applying what you’ve learned directly in Excel.
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Leila Gharani
I’ve spent over 20 years helping businesses use data to improve their results. I've worked as an economist and a consultant. I spent 12 years in corporate roles across finance, operations, and IT—managing SAP and Oracle projects.
As a 7-time Microsoft MVP, I have deep knowledge of tools like Excel and Power BI.
I love making complex tech topics easy to understand. There’s nothing better than helping someone realize they can do it themselves. I’m always learning new things too and finding better ways to help others succeed.
