How to Strikethrough in Excel

Cross out text in a cell — the one-key shortcut, the Format Cells route, a permanent toolbar button, and how to strike text through automatically when a task is marked done.

The quick answer: select the cells and press Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac). Done. Here are the other three ways, including striking text through automatically when something's marked complete.

The keyboard shortcut

Select your cells and press Ctrl + 5 on Windows, or Cmd + Shift + X on Mac. It's a toggle — press it again to remove the strikethrough. This is the fastest method by a mile.

Format Cells (if you forget the shortcut)

Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells, go to the Font tab, tick Strikethrough, and click OK. Same result, more clicks — but easy to find.

Add a permanent strikethrough button

If you use it often, add it to the Quick Access Toolbar: right-click the Format Cells strikethrough option, or go to File → Options → Quick Access Toolbar, and add the Strikethrough command. Now it's one click at the top of the window.

Strike text through automatically

For a to-do list that crosses items off when they're done, use conditional formatting. Select the range, then Home → Conditional Formatting → New Rule → Use a formula. Enter a formula that's true when the row is complete — for example =$B2="Done" — then click Format → Font → Strikethrough. Any row matching the rule gets struck through on its own.

Frequently asked questions