Excel PivotTable - Table VS. Range as source - Which is better?

Posted on: 09/24/2023

In Excel, a PivotTable can be based on a Range or on a Table. I encourage you to base your PivotTable on a Table. Initially, both a range and table will be correct.

The issue comes when you add data to the source and update or Refresh your PivotTable. If based on a table, the PivotTable updates automatically. If based on a Range, the PivotTable will not refresh, and you have to change your data source, which you may forget to do.

Issue with adding records when using a Range

Keyboard Shortcut to create a Table

CTRL + T

Mouse method

Click the Insert Tab
Click Table in the Tables Group.

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Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. Chris runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Copilot, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events yearly, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite Conference, the University of Georgia, and CPA conferences. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://chrismenardtraining.com/linkedin or watch his videos on YouTube at https://chrismenardtraining.com/youtube.