What are Excel macros?

Excel macros are simply a sequence of instructions that you provide in Excel using a given formula, and the program starts to execute those instructions automatically. You can create a macro, for instance, that instructs Excel to set up a formula to add up all the numbers in a column and set up percentages of the total for each. When you instruct Excel to run a certain macro, Excel does it automatically. By automating steps and processes to produce automatic results, macros save users a lot of time. Plus, you can record almost anything in macro. Some of the basic functions you can do while using macros include manipulating data and text, applying formats, creating new documents, and interfacing with text files and databases.

Why are Excel macros important to learn?

Macros are important to learn because they help to reduce the time and effort you put into managing a spreadsheet and database. You can use macros to speed up repetitive tasks, like monthly reports. The macros will help you also avoid typing and data adding errors. When you learn macros, you can create reports that are viewed as more user-friendly. Macros can be used to set up commands to move in between specific sheets in the Excel workbook. Some users also use macros to set the format for the worksheet and print as needed. You will also be seen as an Excel expert, a valuable skill to your audience.

What career opportunities can arise from learning Excel macros?

Learning how to construct Excel macros can help you with a wide range of career opportunities like a business consultant, researcher, workflow analyst, media planner, construction analyst, and many other roles in which research and data come together. When you learn about Excel macros for spreadsheets, you can gain a competitive edge in today's workplaces, as employers everywhere expect you to know the MS Office suite of applications. Knowing how to navigate Excel macros can help lead you to better-paying jobs in the future.

How can online courses help me learn Excel macros?

When you learn Excel macros through online courses, you can better understand the reasons to use a spreadsheet, how to import and export data into your spreadsheets, and how to set up and modify worksheets. Taking online courses can also help you learn more generally about computer programming, data analysis, problem solving, logic and equations, and more. It's also a step forward in learning VBA, which works closely with macros.

What are the benefits of taking an online Excel Macros course?

Online Excel Macros courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Excel Macros skills. Choose from a wide range of Excel Macros courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Excel Macros courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Excel Macros, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Excel Macros Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Excel Macros Course Catalog

Coursera Instructor Network
Microsoft Excel VBA and Macros
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Microsoft Excel, Data Manipulation, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Data Analysis, Productivity Software, Automation, Strategic Decision-Making
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
174 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Peer Review, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Data Structures, Program Development, Computer Programming, Project Design, Simulations, Automation, Spreadsheet Software, Algorithms, UI Components, Debugging, Data Management, User Interface (UI), Data Cleansing, Data Validation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Copilot, Dashboard, Forecasting, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, Data Quality, Statistical Analysis, Data Transformation, Data Analysis
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
98 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Operations Research, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Modeling, Data Modeling, Business Analysis, Resource Allocation, Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Statistical Methods, Transportation Operations, Complex Problem Solving, Linear Algebra, Data Presentation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Macros, Data Validation, Data Entry, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Cleansing, Data Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Predictive Modeling, Financial Modeling, Workflow Management, Finance, Business Intelligence Software, Consolidation, Data Integrity, Productivity Software
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
62K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Data Skills for Excel Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Star Schema, Spreadsheet Software, Data Transformation, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, Excel Formulas, Exploratory Data Analysis, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Visualization Software, Data Presentation, Data Modeling, Business Intelligence, Competitive Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Integration
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
103 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Extract, Transform, Load, Power BI, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Copilot, Data Modeling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Star Schema, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Power Platform, Spreadsheet Software, Data Validation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.3K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving, Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Programming Principles, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Data Structures, Program Development, Computer Programming, Spreadsheet Software, Automation, Algorithms, Debugging, Data Management, Data Cleansing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Knowledge Accelerators
From Excel to Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Dashboard, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Data Visualization Software, Business Intelligence, Data Modeling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Sharing
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate II
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Excel Macros, Data Validation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Predictive Modeling, Financial Modeling, Workflow Management, Data Integrity, Business Modeling, Automation, Process Optimization
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Data Analysis using Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Mining
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4K reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
ChatGPT + Excel: Master AI-driven Formulas & Visualizations
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Data Visualization, ChatGPT, Spreadsheet Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Productivity Software, Generative AI, Business Process Automation, Prompt Engineering, Data Validation, Prototyping, Data Import/Export, Debugging
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
47 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks