How to Insert a New Worksheet in Excel (4 Ways)

To insert a new worksheet in Excel, click the + (New sheet) button to the right of the sheet tabs at the bottom of the window. You can also press Shift + F11, or go to Home > Insert > Insert Sheet. These methods work in Excel 2010 and every later version, including Microsoft 365.

Each method places the new sheet in a slightly different spot, so pick the one that puts it where you want it.

Quick Answer

Click + beside the sheet tabs, or press Shift + F11. Then drag the new tab to move it.

Method 1: Use the New Sheet (+) Button

1. Look at the sheet tabs at the bottom-left of the workbook.
2. Click the + icon to the right of the last tab.
3. A blank sheet named Sheet2, Sheet3, and so on is added and opened.

In Excel 2013 and newer, the + button adds the sheet to the right of the sheet you’re on. In Excel 2010 the button is a small tab with a star icon labeled Insert Worksheet, and it adds the new sheet at the end of the tabs.

Method 2: Press Shift + F11

Press Shift + F11 to insert a sheet to the left of the active sheet. On a laptop where the F keys control brightness or volume, press Fn + Shift + F11. On a Mac, the same shortcut works in Excel, though you may need to hold fn as well.

Method 3: Use the Ribbon

1. Click the Home tab.
2. In the Cells group, click the arrow under Insert.
3. Choose Insert Sheet. The new sheet appears to the left of the active one.

Method 4: Right-Click a Sheet Tab

1. Right-click any sheet tab and choose Insert.
2. Select Worksheet on the General tab. The Spreadsheet Solutions tab has templates if you want a pre-built layout.
3. Click OK.

Which Method to Use

Method	Where the new sheet goes	Best for
+ button (2013 and newer)	Right of the active sheet	Quick mouse-driven adding
Insert Worksheet tab (2010)	End of the tabs	Adding sheets in order
Shift + F11	Left of the active sheet	Keyboard users
Home > Insert > Insert Sheet	Left of the active sheet	When you can’t see the tabs
Right-click > Insert	Left of the clicked tab	Sheet templates

Insert Several Sheets at Once

Hold Shift and click to select as many existing tabs as the number of sheets you want to add, for example three tabs for three new sheets. Then use Home > Insert > Insert Sheet. Excel adds that many blank sheets. Right-click any tab and choose Ungroup Sheets afterward so edits don’t apply to every selected sheet.

Rename and Move the New Sheet

• Rename: Double-click the tab, type a name (up to 31 characters), and press Enter.
• Move: Drag the tab left or right. Hold Ctrl while dragging to make a copy instead.
• Color: Right-click the tab and choose Tab Color.

Change How Many Sheets New Workbooks Start With

Go to File > Options > General and change Include this many sheets. Newer versions start with one sheet; Excel 2010 started with three.

Troubleshooting

• You can’t see the sheet tabs or the + button: The tabs may be hidden or the scroll bar may be covering them. See how to show missing sheet tabs in Excel.
• Insert Sheet is grayed out: The workbook structure is protected. Go to Review > Protect Workbook and enter the password if you have it.
• Shift + F11 does nothing: Your keyboard’s function-key lock may be on. Try adding Fn, or toggle the Fn Lock key.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many worksheets can a workbook have?

There’s no fixed limit. The number is limited by your computer’s available memory.

How do I insert a sheet between Sheet1 and Sheet2?

Click the Sheet2 tab and press Shift + F11. The new sheet is placed to its left, between the two.

How do I copy a sheet from another workbook?

Open both workbooks, right-click the sheet tab, choose Move or Copy, pick the other workbook in the To book list, check Create a copy, and click OK.

Summary

1. Click + next to the sheet tabs, or
2. Press Shift + F11, or
3. Use Home > Insert > Insert Sheet.
4. Rename the new tab by double-clicking it.