How to Strikethrough in Excel: Complete Shortcut, Formatting, and Cell Styling Guide for All Versions

This comprehensive guide explains every practical way to apply, remove, and automate strikethrough formatting in Microsoft Excel across Windows, macOS, Excel for the web, and via VBA or conditional formatting. It covers keyboard shortcuts, ribbon commands, cell- and character-level application, bulk operations, programmatic toggles, and real-world use cases such as task lists, completed orders, or reconciliation workflows. The instructions are verified against official Microsoft documentation and trusted Excel resources to ensure accuracy across versions and platforms.

Whether you need a quick toggle during data cleanup or a repeatable process for large workbooks, this article provides step-by-step instructions, example code, troubleshooting tips, and best practices so you can apply strikethrough reliably and safely without accidental data loss. Examples include both single-line and partial-cell strikethrough, creating a Quick Access Toolbar button, and using checkboxes with conditional formatting to strike completed rows automatically.

Read through the sections below for platform-specific shortcuts, visual walkthroughs for the ribbon and Format Cells dialog, VBA examples (with ready-to-run snippets), and a prioritized checklist for implementing strikethrough in production spreadsheets used by teams.

Quick Methods: Keyboard Shortcuts and Ribbon Commands

The fastest ways to apply or remove strikethrough are keyboard shortcuts and the Font controls on the Home ribbon. On Windows, use Ctrl + 5 to toggle strikethrough for the selected cell(s). This is a universal shortcut in desktop Excel and also works in many cases in Excel for the web. On macOS, use Command + Shift + X to toggle strikethrough.

To use the ribbon: select the cell or range, go to the Home tab, find the Font group, and click the Strikethrough button. If the button is not visible in your ribbon layout, open the Format Cells dialog (Home → Font dialog launcher) and check the Strikethrough option under Effects. The dialog also allows applying double strikethrough where supported.

Excel for the web supports strikethrough as well; the option appears in the Home ribbon Font group or under the ellipsis (More Font Options) menu if space is limited. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+5 also works in many modern browsers when using Excel Online, though behavior can vary by browser and OS key mappings.

Step-by-step: Apply Strikethrough Using Ribbon or Dialog

1. Select the cell or range you want to format. 2. On the Home tab, find the Font group and click the small Font Dialog Box Launcher (the diagonal arrow) in the corner. 3. In the Format Cells dialog, go to the Font tab and check Strikethrough under Effects, then click OK. This method is useful when you need to apply double strikethrough or ensure the effect is applied exactly as intended.

Partial-cell strikethrough (crossing out only part of the cell text) requires entering edit mode (double-click the cell or press F2), selecting the specific characters you want to cross out, then applying strikethrough from the Format Cells > Font dialog or via the shortcut while that text is selected. This is commonly used for inline edits or corrections inside a single cell.

Using Strikethrough in Excel for the Web (Excel Online)

Excel for the web includes strikethrough formatting in the Home ribbon. If the Strikethrough button is not visible because of window width, click the ellipsis (three dots) to reveal more font options and select Strikethrough. The web version supports the common keyboard toggle (Ctrl + 5), but multiple-selection behavior differs: non-contiguous multi-range selection may not support bulk toggles the same way desktop Excel does.

Keep in mind that while Excel Online preserves strikethrough formatting applied in desktop Excel, some advanced formatting behaviors (such as complex partial-cell formats across different runs of text) may display differently in the browser. For consistent editing of character-level formatting, prefer desktop Excel.

Conditional Formatting and Checkboxes: Automatic Strikethrough for Completed Items

To automatically strike through items when a status cell changes (for example, when a checkbox is checked or a status column equals “Done”), use Conditional Formatting with a formula-based rule. This method is non-destructive: the original text remains intact and you can remove the rule to restore the standard display.

Example: suppose column A has task descriptions and column B contains checkboxes linked to TRUE/FALSE or Y/N values. To apply strikethrough to the task text when the linked cell indicates completion, select A:A, then create a New Rule → Use a formula to determine which cells to format, and enter a formula like =($B1=TRUE) or =($B1=”Y”). Set Format → Font → Strikethrough and click OK. This applies strikethrough only while the condition is true.

Detailed conditional formatting workflow

1. Insert checkboxes or set up a status column that records completion as TRUE/FALSE or a specific text value. 2. Select the range where you want the strikethrough to appear. 3. On the Home tab, select Conditional Formatting → New Rule → Use a formula to determine which cells to format. Enter the formula that references the status cell, then click Format → Font and check Strikethrough. Apply the rule. This method scales well for lists, to-do trackers, and project sheets.

Programmatic Strikethrough: VBA Examples and Automation

Excel’s object model exposes the Font.Strikethrough property so you can set or toggle strikethrough via VBA. This is useful for automating cleanup, toggling completed flags across large datasets, or building UI buttons that change style rather than content. The VBA property accepts Boolean values (True/False) and can be toggled programmatically for individual cells or entire ranges.

Example VBA snippet to set strikethrough on the active cell:

Sub ApplyStrikethroughToActiveCell() ActiveCell.Font.Strikethrough = True End Sub

Example to toggle strikethrough on selection:

Sub ToggleStrikethroughSelection() Dim c As Range For Each c In Selection c.Font.Strikethrough = Not c.Font.Strikethrough Next c End Sub

These macros are safe for single- or multi-cell selections. If you need to toggle strikethrough for part of a cell’s content (character runs), VBA can manipulate the Characters object, but that use case is more advanced and requires handling character indexes.

VBA: Toggle strikethrough for a column based on a status cell

Use a macro to loop through rows and set strikethrough where a status column indicates completion. Example pattern:

Sub StrikeCompletedTasks() Dim lastRow As Long, i As Long lastRow = Cells(Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row ' assume tasks in column A, status in B For i = 2 To lastRow If LCase(Trim(Cells(i, "B").Value)) = "done" Then Cells(i, "A").Font.Strikethrough = True Else Cells(i, "A").Font.Strikethrough = False End If Next i End Sub

Run this after status updates or call it from a button to standardize formatting across the sheet.

Advanced Techniques and Practical Use Cases

Strikethrough is commonly used in task lists, inventory reconciliation, payroll adjustments, and editorial workflows. Use non-destructive approaches (conditional formatting or formatting via macros) when you need to preserve original values for reporting, filtering, or auditing. Below are practical patterns and scenarios where strikethrough integrates into operational spreadsheets.

• Task completion trackers. Use checkboxes linked to TRUE/FALSE cells combined with a conditional formatting rule to strike through task rows when checked. This creates a visual signal while preserving task text for later reporting or reactivation.
• Inventory audits. Temporarily strike out counted SKUs during cycle counts using a VBA toggle that records a timestamp when a line is struck, supporting traceability without deleting data.
• Editorial review. For copy edits, apply partial-cell strikethrough to deleted words while keeping the original sentence for review. Use character selection in edit mode or the Format Cells dialog to affect only the desired text run.
• Financial reconciliation. Strike through reconciled entries in a statement while keeping amounts untouched so formulas and totals remain accurate. Use separate status columns so the struck format does not affect calculations.
• Bulk cleanup before publishing. Use a macro to strip strikethrough formatting once an item is finalized or to export only non-struck rows for a public report.

Each scenario emphasizes the principle of preserving source data and using formatting strictly for visualization; where data must be hidden or removed from calculations, use proper filtering or deletion workflows instead of relying on visual styling alone.

Best Practices, Troubleshooting, and Accessibility

Best practices: prefer conditional formatting or status columns over manual direct formatting when multiple collaborators use a workbook; document the meaning of strikethrough in a sheet legend; and keep backups before mass-formatting or running macros. For team environments, standardize the method (checkbox + conditional formatting or a macro) so users don’t accidentally remove rules or misinterpret formatting.

Troubleshooting common problems: if Ctrl+5 or Command+Shift+X doesn’t work, check whether the workbook is protected, whether the sheet allows formatting, or whether an add-in or customized keyboard mapping is intercepting the shortcut. In some remote or virtual environments, keyboard shortcuts may be captured by the host app; use the ribbon commands in those cases. If partial-cell strikethrough isn’t applying correctly, ensure you are in edit mode and selecting characters rather than entire cells.

Accessibility: strikethrough conveys meaning visually but may not be recognized by screen readers as intended. For critical workflows, include an explicit status column or accessible notes to communicate state for users relying on assistive technologies. Avoid using strikethrough as the only indicator of status when accessibility matters.

Detailed troubleshooting checklist

• Shortcut doesn’t work: Verify focus is on Excel, not on another app; check that the workbook is not in edit mode with an active formula bar that captures keys differently; try the ribbon method. If in Excel Online, try a different browser.
• Partial formatting not preserved: Ensure you edited the cell and applied formatting to the selected characters; export to other formats (CSV) will lose formatting. Keep formatting and data separate if you need to export.
• Conditional rule not applying: Confirm the formula references are correct, use absolute/relative addressing appropriately (e.g., $B1), and ensure rule precedence doesn’t override it. Validate the rule on a test row first.
• VBA fails on protected sheet: Unprotect the sheet or include Unprotect/Protect calls in the macro with a password parameter if required. Test in a copy first to avoid unintended changes.
• Formatting inconsistencies across platforms: Prefer desktop Excel for fine-grained character formatting; use the web for quick edits and broad operations. Test cross-platform viewing if stakeholders use mixed environments.

Pro Tips

• Add a Quick Access Toolbar button for strikethrough. Right-click the ribbon → Customize Quick Access Toolbar → choose All Commands → find Strikethrough → Add. This creates a one-click toggle accessible even if keyboard shortcuts differ between users.
• Combine checkboxes with conditional formatting for granular control. Link form control checkboxes to cells and use those cells as references in conditional formatting rules; this separates UI from logic and avoids manual formatting mistakes.
• Use a “visual audit” sheet. If you apply strikethrough as part of an audit or cleanup process, maintain a control sheet that lists which rows were struck, who struck them, and timestamps—either via macro logging or manual notes—to preserve an audit trail.
• Export only non-struck rows. If you need to share a public version without struck rows, use a filter to show only non-struck items (apply a helper column with the status) and then copy to a new sheet for export. Strikethrough formatting does not filter natively, so a helper column is essential.
• Use character-level formatting sparingly. Partial-cell strikethrough is useful but can complicate automated processing; avoid mixing multiple formatting runs when you need consistent extraction or conversion to other formats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the quickest way to add strikethrough in Excel on Windows?

A: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 5 to toggle strikethrough for selected cells. If the shortcut is unavailable, use Home → Font group → Strikethrough or Format Cells → Font → Strikethrough.

Q: How do I strike through only part of the text inside a cell?

A: Double-click the cell or press F2 to enter edit mode, highlight the characters to cross out, then apply strikethrough using the Format Cells dialog or the keyboard shortcut. Note that partial formatting may not export to plain-text formats and can be lost in CSV conversions.

Q: Can I automate strikethrough for completed tasks?

A: Yes. Use Conditional Formatting linked to a checkbox or status cell for a non-destructive approach, or use VBA to set Font.Strikethrough based on status cells for bulk automation. Conditional rules are preferable when collaboration or auditability is important.

Q: Does Ctrl+5 work in Excel for the web?

A: In many browsers, Ctrl + 5 toggles strikethrough in Excel for the web, but behavior can vary. If the shortcut does not work, use the Home ribbon Font group or the More Font Options menu.

Q: How do I remove strikethrough formatting in bulk?

A: Select the affected range and toggle the shortcut again (Ctrl+5 / Command+Shift+X), or create a macro that sets .Font.Strikethrough = False for the selected range. For conditional formatting-based strikethrough, remove or edit the rule to restore normal formatting.

Conclusion

Strikethrough in Excel is a simple yet powerful visual tool for indicating completion, removal, or review state. Use keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+5 on Windows, Command+Shift+X on Mac) and ribbon controls for quick toggles; adopt conditional formatting and linked checkboxes for non-destructive, team-friendly workflows; and use VBA when you need repeatable, automated control across large workbooks. Prefer helper columns and documented rules over ad hoc formatting to preserve data integrity, ensure accessibility, and support exports. Test cross-platform behavior when stakeholders use both desktop and web clients, and maintain backups before running bulk macros. Applying these practices balances convenience with control and ensures formatting serves meaning without compromising data or reporting accuracy.