The Problem (Q-score 5, ranked #148th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)
The scenario as originally posted in 2010
I have multiple lists that are in separate columns in excel. What I need to do is combine these columns of data into one big column. I do not care if there are duplicate entries, however I want it to skip row 1 of each column.
Also what about if ROW1 has headers from January to December, and the length of the columns are different and needs to be combine into one big column?
ROW1| 1 2 3
ROW2| A D G
ROW3| B E H
ROW4| C F I
should combine into
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
The first row of each column needs to be skipped.
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) (+11)
15-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)
Try this. Click anywhere in your range of data and then use this macro:
Sub CombineColumns()
Dim rng As Range
Dim iCol As Integer
Dim lastCell As Integer
Set rng = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion
lastCell = rng.Columns(1).Rows.Count + 1
For iCol = 2 To rng.Columns.Count
Range(Cells(1, iCol), Cells(rng.Columns(iCol).Rows.Count, iCol)).Cut
ActiveSheet.Paste Destination:=Cells(lastCell, 1)
lastCell = lastCell + rng.Columns(iCol).Rows.Count
Next iCol
End Sub
Loop-performance notes specific to this pattern
The loop in the answer iterates in process. On a 2026 Office build, setting Application.ScreenUpdating = False and Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual around a loop of this size typically cuts runtime by 40–70%. Re-enable both in the Exit handler.
When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)
Ranked #148th in its category — specialized fit
This pattern sits in the 97% 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 2010 and 2026
The answer is 16 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.