The fastest way to learn Excel
Learn the fundamental skills in Excel, with a focus on speed and learning by doing.
Why learn Excel?
No more trial and error
Get your fundamentals right and you can stop searching the internet every time you want to try something new in Excel.
Write convincing reports
Use your Excel skills and impress your co-workers by creating intricate reports and overviews.
Automate your workflow
Reduce hours of time spent on mundane tasks by automating them in a few minutes.
What people are saying about Excel Foundation
The course contains clear and concise explanations of Excel functions like Vlookup and how to create pivottables. Because of the no-nonsense explanations in the course I can now make perfect prints of Excel tables without a lot of paper loss.
As an absolute beginner I was able to create many complex spreadsheets thanks to the course.
Harley Martin
The GIFs are mega nice. Quick and without sound. They clearly convey what is meant. Also, the tests are very good. It really stimulates me to continue (you see your results). Well thought out with feedback afterwards!
Ernest Miller
What’s in the course
The Excel Foundation course is divided into modules, which you can see below. Each module (except for the extras module) has a test so you know if you understood everything.
1. Introduction
Spreadsheet components – Cells, columns, rows, ranges. Let’s get all of these definitions clear so we can get to some real Excelling.
Workbooks – Quick lesson on creating, opening and saving your work.
Worksheets 1 – The pages of your workbook. Making, changing and moving sheets around.
Selecting 1 – About selecting cells and selecting entire rows and columns, includes keyboard shortcuts.
Beginner keyboard shortcuts – A small number of shortcuts that can provide a huge boost in productivity.
2. Getting to know Excel
The Ribbon 1 – Taking a look at the Ribbon and what commands it contains.
The Ribbon 2 – Toggling the Ribbon, seeing even more options and customizing the Ribbon.
Selecting 2 – Selecting cells that aren’t next to each other and selecting using the naming textbox.
Rows & columns – Inserting, deleting and auto sizing – Never ‘move everything one to the right’ by hand ever again!
Worksheets 2 – Copying, hiding and moving worksheets to other workbooks.
Printing – About the different workbook views and how to make something print how you want it.
Protecting workbooks and worksheets – Lock individual cells or the entire workbook.
Recovering files – About a feature that is an absolute life saver when you accidentally lose your workbook. And how to prevent future losses.
3. Formatting
Formatting – Formatting cells and individual words. Resetting and copying formatting.
Formatting 2 – Align text to the top or bottom of a cell, wrap the text of a cell, open the window with all formatting options.
Number formats – What number formats there are and how to easily switch between them.
Conditional formatting – Get a quick overview of your data in just a few mouse clicks.
Conditional formatting 2 – Create your own conditions and formatting styles.
Data validation – Protect yourself from typos and keep others from messing up your precious workbooks?
Data validation 2 – More restricting options, includes creating your own dropdown list.
4. Functions and formulas
Functions and formulas – What the difference is and how you use them.
Insert functions and Autofill – Start inserting your own functions and duplicating them using Autofill.
References – Referencing things on other worksheets, how to use the $ sign and in what situations absolute references can be useful.
Named ranges – Make ranges easier and more professional for yourself and others. Also contains naming of constants and functions.
Some of the most useful functions in Excel, discussed per category:
Math functions 1 – Count and Sum. Crucial when doing any type of financial calculations. Also some quick info on nesting functions.
Text functions 1 – Concatenate and Substitute. Some starter text functions that can save you time and an intermezzo on strings.
Statistical functions 1 – Average and Median. Quick and easy lesson on two often used statistical functions.
Date & time functions 1 – Today and Now + bonus functions. Update days, years and ages automatically using the functions explained in this lesson. Also contains a part about the underlying representation of dates and times that Excel uses.
Logic functions 1 – If, And and Or. All about Boolean logic and true’s and falses.
Lookup functions 1 – Vlookup and Hlookup. Maybe the most famous Excel function and its forgotten brother.
5. Charts and tables
Tables – Adding tables to your workbook allows for some powerful features that will save you time.
Charts – Inserting, formatting and deleting charts. Ends with an overview of different chart types and what type of data is best suitable for each of them.
Pivot tables 1 – What a pivot table is, how it relates to a regular table and a start with a follow-along example.
Pivot tables 2 – Continuing with the follow-along example. Changing number formats, filtering, adding another pivot axis and refreshing the pivot table.
6. Extras
Errors and how to solve them – #NAME?, #VALUE? and other errors explained.
VBA Macros intro – An introduction into the world of visual basic.
Extra tips and functions – Removing gridlines, average and sum without formulas and more.
Become a premium member to unlock the Excel Foundation course
Premium membership
$15/mo
Billed annually or $30 billed monthly
Includes Excel Foudation course
✔ 6 modules containing everything for a robust Excel foundation, from selecting cells to coding in Visual Basic.
✔ To the point explanations for people that want to do more and read less.
✔ Train your skills in exercises in our unique online spreadsheet editor.
✔ 100+ questions in our tests to make sure you understand everything.
Also included in premium membership
✔ Definition database with explanations for common Excel terms.
✔ Immediate access when you sign up below.
Prices are in US dollars and will automatically be converted to your local currency if necessary.