How do you combine multiple Excel files into one sheet on a Mac?

By Kayabyte · Last updated 31 October 2026

To combine several Excel files into one sheet on a Mac, put all the data under one header: copy and paste the rows by hand, or import each file into Power Query and append the queries. Both work for a few files with identical columns and get slow and error-prone when columns differ or there are dozens of files. Gridhand’s Merge tool stacks the rows of many files into one sheet, matching columns by header.

Manual method: copy and paste

Make a new workbook and paste the first file’s data, header included.
For each next file, select its data without the header row (Cmd-Shift-Down and Cmd-Shift-Right from the first data cell), copy, and paste under the last row.
If columns are in a different order, paste each block into the right columns by hand. Add a “Source” column yourself if you need to know where rows came from.
Check the pasted dates and numbers, and the last row of each paste.

Manual method: Power Query append

In a new workbook choose Data, Get Data and import the first file (as a connection or table). Repeat for the others; on Mac you import file by file (Microsoft’s Q&A answers say the folder connector is not offered there; details in the Power Query guide below).
In the Power Query Editor choose Append Queries and add the other queries.
Close and load to a sheet.

Power Query matches columns by name, which is better than pasting, but you set it up for every file, and it is not available in older Excel for Mac versions. See Power Query on a Mac.

Where it goes wrong

Headers that differ by case, a trailing space or a different order put data in the wrong column or create duplicate columns.
A header that starts on row 3 in one file and row 1 in another.
Formulas that refer to cells in their old sheet.

With Gridhand

Gridhand opens the files, finds each header row (or uses a row number you give), matches columns by header text ignoring case and spaces, keeps columns that only some files have, and stacks everything under one header. You can add the source file and source sheet as the first or last columns, freeze the header and name the output. Cell styles are carried over; formulas are translated for their new row, and converted to values when their references cannot follow, with counts in the report. Merged cells inside the data are kept; tables, charts and images are not carried into the stacked sheet, and conditional formatting and validation come from the first sheet only. Originals are never modified.

Gridhand Merge result on a Mac: the workbook written to the output folder, with Show in Finder and Copy Report buttons

Steps with Gridhand

Drop the workbooks, or a folder, into Gridhand.
Choose Merge, then “Into one sheet (stack the rows)”.
Leave “find the header row” on, or enter a row number, and tick the source file and source sheet options if you want them.
Check the preview, choose an output folder and press Run.

Free for up to 3 files per run; Gridhand Pro is USD 49 once. Download Gridhand

Questions

Do the files need identical columns? No. Columns are matched by header text, and columns that only some files have are kept and listed in the report.

Can I tell which file each row came from? Yes. Add the source file and source sheet as columns.

Does it handle several sheets per file? Yes. Every selected sheet’s rows are stacked, and you can leave sheets out.

What if rows must be unique after stacking? Stack first, then use Clean to remove duplicates by the columns you choose. See remove duplicates across multiple Excel files.

Microsoft and Excel are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Gridhand is made by Kayabyte and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.