How to Strikethrough in Excel
Add strikethrough formatting to mark completed tasks, deprecated items, or crossed-out text
Quick Answer
Fastest method: Select cell(s) → Press Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac) to toggle strikethrough on/off.
Result: Text appears with a line through it like this.
What is Strikethrough?
Strikethrough is a text formatting option that draws a horizontal line through the middle of your text, commonly used for:
Common Uses:
- ✓Marking completed tasks in to-do lists
- ✓Showing price reductions or discounts
- ✓Indicating deprecated or obsolete items
- ✓Tracking changes without deleting
Example:
Old Price: $99.99
New Price: $79.99
✓ Complete project proposal
○ Review budget
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)
Windows
Ctrl + 5Press both keys simultaneously
Mac
Cmd + Shift + XPress all three keys together
Step-by-Step:
- 1.Select the cell or cells containing text you want to strikethrough
- 2.Press the keyboard shortcut for your operating system
- 3.Strikethrough is applied instantly
- 4.Press the same shortcut again to remove strikethrough (toggle on/off)
Pro Tip: Works on multiple cells at once - select a range and press the shortcut to strikethrough all selected cells.
Best For:
- Quick formatting without using mouse
- Rapidly marking completed items
- Power users and keyboard-centric workflows
- Most efficient method
Method 2: Format Cells Dialog
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- 1.Select the cell(s) you want to format
- 2.Press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Cmd + 1 (Mac) to open Format Cells
- 3.Or right-click → Format Cells
- 4.Click the Font tab (if not already selected)
- 5.Under Effects, check the Strikethrough checkbox
- 6.Click OK
Bonus: Combine with Other Formatting
In the same dialog, you can also adjust:
- • Font style, size, and color
- • Bold, italic, underline
- • Subscript and superscript
- • All in one place!
Best For:
- Applying multiple formatting options at once
- When you need to see all font options
- Users who prefer dialog interfaces
- Precise formatting control
Method 3: Font Dialog Launcher
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- 1.Select your cells
- 2.Go to Home tab
- 3.In the Font group, click the small diagonal arrow in the bottom-right corner (Font dialog launcher)
- 4.This opens the Format Cells dialog on the Font tab
- 5.Check Strikethrough → Click OK
Best For:
- Users who prefer ribbon navigation
- Visual access to Font dialog
- When Format Cells shortcut is forgotten
Method 4: Quick Access Toolbar (Custom Button)
Add a strikethrough button to your Quick Access Toolbar for one-click access.
Setup (One-Time):
- 1.Click the dropdown arrow on the Quick Access Toolbar (top-left, above ribbon)
- 2.Click More Commands
- 3.In "Choose commands from" dropdown, select All Commands
- 4.Scroll and find Strikethrough
- 5.Click Add to move it to the Quick Access Toolbar
- 6.Click OK
Usage:
After setup, just select cells and click the strikethrough button in your Quick Access Toolbar!
Best For:
- Frequent strikethrough users
- Visual button-based workflow
- Avoiding keyboard shortcuts
- Persistent access across all workbooks
How to Strikethrough Part of Cell Text
Need to strikethrough only specific words or characters within a cell? Here's how:
Step-by-Step:
- 1.Double-click the cell to enter edit mode (or press F2)
- 2.Select the specific text you want to strikethrough by clicking and dragging
- 3.Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells
- 4.Check Strikethrough → Click OK
- 5.Press Enter to finish editing
Example:
Original price $99.99 now only $79.99!
Only the old price has strikethrough, not the entire cell
Tips & Best Practices
Auto-Strikethrough with Conditional Formatting
Automatically strikethrough cells based on conditions (e.g., when status = "Complete"):
Example Setup:
- Select your task list range
- Home tab → Conditional Formatting → New Rule
- Choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format"
- Enter formula like:
=$B2="Complete" - Click Format → Font tab → Check Strikethrough → OK
- Click OK again
Result: Rows automatically get strikethrough when column B shows "Complete"