Strikethrough in Excel is a simple formatting feature—but it’s surprisingly powerful. Whether you’re marking completed tasks, canceling outdated values, or tracking progress, strikethrough helps you visually manage data without deleting it.
In this guide, you’ll learn every working way to do strikethrough in Excel, including keyboard shortcuts, Mac methods, and cell-level formatting—plus tips most people don’t know.
Quick Answer (Featured Snippet Optimized)
How do you do strikethrough in Excel?
Select the cell or text, press Ctrl + 5, and Excel will apply strikethrough formatting instantly.
Why Use Strikethrough in Excel?
People commonly use strikethrough to:
- Mark completed tasks
- Show canceled items without deleting data
- Track revisions
- Keep records clean and readable
If you’re organizing messy spreadsheets, you may also find these guides useful:
Method 1: How to Do Strikethrough in Excel Shortcut (Fastest)
This is the most popular and fastest method.
Steps:
- Select the cell (or text inside a cell)
- Press:
Ctrl + 5
✅ Instantly applies strikethrough
✅ Works on Windows Excel
❌ Not available on Mac using the same shortcut
Press Ctrl + 5 again to remove strikethrough.
Method 2: How to Do Strikethrough in Excel Cell (Font Settings)
Perfect when shortcuts aren’t available.
Steps:
- Select the cell
- Press Ctrl + 1
- Go to the Font tab
- Check Strikethrough
- Click OK
This works for:
- Single cells
- Multiple selected cells
- Partial text (with text selected inside the formula bar)
Method 3: How to Do Strikethrough in Excel on Mac
Excel for Mac doesn’t support Ctrl + 5, but it’s still easy.
Mac Steps:
- Select the cell or text
- Press:
Command + Shift + X(Works in newer Excel Mac versions)
Alternative Mac Method:
- Right-click → Format Cells → Font → Strikethrough
So yes—how to do strikethrough in Excel on Mac is fully supported.
Method 4: Add Strikethrough Button to Quick Access Toolbar
If you use strikethrough often, this is a game-changer.
Steps:
- Click the dropdown arrow on the Quick Access Toolbar
- Choose More Commands
- Select Strikethrough
- Click Add → OK
Now you can apply strikethrough with one click.
Method 5: Strikethrough Only Part of a Cell’s Text
You don’t have to strike the entire cell.
Steps:
- Double-click the cell
- Highlight specific text
- Press Ctrl + 5 (Windows)
or use Format Cells (Mac)
Great for notes, comments, or mixed formatting.
Bonus: Use Conditional Formatting for Automatic Strikethrough
Advanced users love this.
Example: Automatically strikethrough tasks marked “Done”.
Basic idea:
- Create a rule
- Apply strikethrough when a condition is met
This pairs perfectly with clean formatting tips like how to remove hyperlink in Excel.
Common Use Cases
- To-do lists
- Project tracking
- Inventory updates
- Budget adjustments
Strikethrough keeps your data visible—but clearly marked.
FAQs (Optimized for AI Overviews)
What is the shortcut for strikethrough in Excel?
Use Ctrl + 5 on Windows to toggle strikethrough instantly.
How do I do strikethrough in Excel on Mac?
Use Command + Shift + X or go to Format Cells → Font → Strikethrough.
Can I strikethrough only part of a cell?
Yes. Double-click the cell, select the text, and apply strikethrough.
Is there a strikethrough button in Excel?
Not by default, but you can add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.
Does strikethrough delete data?
No. It only changes formatting—the data stays intact.
Conclusion
Now you know how to do strikethrough in Excel using shortcuts, menus, and Mac-friendly methods. Whether you’re managing tasks or cleaning up spreadsheets, strikethrough is a simple way to stay organized without losing information.
Use shortcuts for speed—and toolbar buttons for convenience.