Excel can’t split one cell into two cells the way you can split a table cell in Word. Each cell is the smallest unit on the grid. You can still get the result you’re after in one of three ways: draw a diagonal line through the cell, merge the cells around it so it looks divided, or move its contents into two separate cells.
Pick the method that matches your goal. The steps below are for Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016 on Windows.
| What you want | Best method |
|---|---|
| A corner header with two labels, such as “Month” and “Region” | Diagonal border |
| One cell that looks like the top or bottom half of a wider block | Merge or unmerge nearby cells |
| A first name in one cell and a last name in the next | Text to Columns, Flash Fill, or TEXTSPLIT |
Split a cell diagonally with a border
A diagonal line is the most common way to make a cell look split in half. It’s popular for the top-left cell of a table, where one label describes the rows and the other describes the columns.
- Select the cell.
- Right-click it and choose Format Cells, or press Ctrl+1.
- Open the Border tab.
- Under Border, select the diagonal button that runs the direction you want. One goes from top-left to bottom-right, and the other goes from bottom-left to top-right. The preview shows the line.
- Pick a line Style and Color if you want something other than the default.
- Select OK.
The line only splits the cell visually. You still type both labels into the same cell.
To take the diagonal line out later, follow the steps to remove borders in Excel.
Add text to each half of a diagonal cell
- Double-click the cell and type the label for the top-right half.
- Press Alt+Enter to start a new line inside the cell.
- Type the label for the bottom-left half, then press Enter.
- Double-click the cell again and click just before the first label.
- Press the Spacebar until the first label moves to the right side of the cell. Press Enter when it lines up.
If the text looks cramped, make the row taller and the column wider. Turning on wrap text can also help both lines show.
Make a cell look split by merging around it
Sometimes you want a heading that spans two columns, with two smaller cells under it. You can’t split the heading cell, but you can build the layout the other way around.
- Put your two “half” values in two cells side by side, such as B2 and C2.
- Select the two cells above them, such as B1 and C1.
- On the Home tab, select Merge & Center. B1 and C1 become one wide cell above two narrower ones.
Already have a merged cell you want to break apart? Select it, select the arrow next to Merge & Center, and choose Unmerge Cells. The contents land in the top-left cell of the old range. Microsoft notes that you can only unmerge cells that were merged. A cell that was never merged can’t be split.
Split a cell’s contents into two cells
If “split a cell in half” means separating text, like “Jane Smith” into “Jane” and “Smith,” Excel has three good tools. Make sure the cells to the right are empty first, because the results can overwrite whatever is there.
Text to Columns
- Select the cells you want to split.
- Select Data > Data Tools > Text to Columns.
- If Excel asks for a data type, choose Delimited.
- Choose the character that separates the two parts, such as Space or Comma.
- Finish the split. Depending on your version, the last button is Apply or Finish.
Flash Fill
Type the first result by hand in the column next to your data, such as “Jane” next to “Jane Smith.” Then select the cell below it and press Ctrl+E, or select Data > Flash Fill. Excel fills in the rest of the column by following your example.
TEXTSPLIT formula
In Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel for the web, type =TEXTSPLIT(A2,” “) in the cell to the right of A2. The text spills into as many cells as it has parts. Excel for the web doesn’t have the Text to Columns wizard, so this formula is the easiest option there.
Common questions
Can I color each half of a diagonal cell differently?
Not with standard fill colors, which cover the whole cell. A two-color gradient from Format Cells > Fill > Fill Effects can come close, or you can draw a triangle shape over the cell.
How do I remove a diagonal line?
Open Format Cells > Border and select the same diagonal button again to turn it off. Our guide to removing borders in Excel covers clearing every border at once.
Can I split a cell into two rows?
Not within one cell. Insert a new row instead, then merge the cells in the columns that should stay whole.
For Microsoft’s explanation of why single cells can’t be split, see Split a cell in Excel.
