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Often you may want to delete every third row in Excel.
For example, suppose you have the following dataset that contains information about various basketball players:
The following step-by-step example shows how to delete every third row so that we’re only left with the following rows:
Let’s jump in!
Step 1: Enter the Data
First, let’s enter the following data into Excel:
Step 2: Create Helper Column
Next, type the word Delete into cell D4:
Then highlight the range D2:D4. Then click and drag down to all remaining cells in column D:
Each third row now contains the word Delete.
Step 3: Add Filter & Delete Rows
Next, click the dropdown arrow next to the Helper column and then only check the box next to Delete, then click OK:
Once you click OK, only the rows with a value of Delete in the Helper column will be visible:
Next, highlight the four visible rows and then right click. Then click Delete Row from the dropdown menu:
Lastly, click the Filter icon again on the Data tab to remove the filter.
The only rows that will be left will be the ones that did not have a value of Delete in the Helper column:
We have effectively deleted every third row from the original dataset.
Note that you can also delete the Helper column if you’d like since we no longer need it.