Excel automation – Select all active cells

calendar_today Asked Apr 30, 2009
thumb_up 12 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

Here you go: Range("A1").Select Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlToRight)).Select Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select Or if you don't necessarily start at A1…. This is a 4-line Excel VBA snippet, ranked #176th of 303 by community upvote score, from 2009.


The Problem (Q-score 2, ranked #176th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2009

I have an app where I put a lot of data into an Excel Worksheet. Once I’m done, I would like to select all the cells from the top left to the bottom right where I have put data in. E.g. say I put data into A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3 (a 3×3 grid). How can I select just this grid (and not the entire sheet). I guess by saying something like 

ActiveSheet.SelectUsedCells

Any pointers? (Yes – I know I could just remember the bottom right cell when I put it in from my app)

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 303 Excel VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds solid answer (above median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — solid answer (above median) (+12)

4-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)

Here you go:

Range("A1").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlToRight)).Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select

Or if you don’t necessarily start at A1:

Range("C6").Select  ' Select a cell that you know you populated'
Selection.End(xlUp).Select
Selection.End(xlToLeft).Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlToRight)).Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #176th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 96% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2009 and 2026

The answer is 17 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

help
Frequently Asked Questions

Is this above-median answer still worth copying?
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Answer score +12 vs the Excel VBA archive median ~4; this entry is solid. The score plus 2 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+2) means the asker and 11 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 4-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 4-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 17 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2009, which is 17 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Excel VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #175?
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The pattern one rank above is “Convert an Array Formula's Text Results into a Usable Format”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 2, Answer-score 12, original post 2009, ranked #176th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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