How to use Append Queries in Power Query
By the Analistable team · Updated · 2 min read
Load each table into Power Query, then choose Home → Append Queries → Append Queries as New. Pick Two tables or Three or more tables, add them in order, and click OK. Columns are matched by name; a column missing from one table is filled with null. Add a custom column before appending if you need to know which table each row came from.
Part of our guide: How to merge data in Power BI, Power Query and Tableau
Step by step in Excel
- Click in each source table and choose Data → From Table/Range. In the editor, choose Close & Load To → Only Create Connection.
- Choose Data → Get Data → Combine Queries → Append.
- Choose Three or more tables, move each table to Tables to append, and order them.
- Click OK, review the result in the editor, then Close & Load.
In Power BI: Transform data, select a query, then Home → Append Queries as New.
Append vs Append as New
Append Queries adds the other tables to the selected query, changing it. Append Queries as New creates a new query and leaves the sources unchanged — usually what you want, because the sources stay reusable.
How columns are matched
| Order | Amount | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | 120 | null |
| 1002 | 80 | null |
| 1003 | 95 | 5 |
Feb's columns are in a different order and it has an extra column — Append still lines everything up by name. Headers must match exactly, including case and spaces: “amount” and “Amount” become two columns. Rename first if needed.
Add a source column
In each source query, Add Column → Custom Column with a constant such as "Jan", or do it in M right at the append:
= Table.Combine({
Table.AddColumn(Jan, "Month", each "Jan"),
Table.AddColumn(Feb, "Month", each "Feb")
})For a folder of files rather than tables in one workbook, use Combine Files from a folder. For joining tables side by side instead of stacking, see Merge Queries join kinds.
Common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Two similar columns (“Amount”, “amount”) | Rename to one spelling before appending |
| Column types change to Any | Set types after the append step |
| Duplicate rows | The same rows exist in two sources; Remove Duplicates on the key after appending |
| New table not included | Append lists tables by name; add it, or use Excel.CurrentWorkbook() to include all |
For the last point, see merging every Excel table into one sheet.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Append Queries do in Power Query?
- It stacks the rows of two or more tables into one, matching columns by name.
- Can I append tables with different columns?
- Yes. Columns are matched by name, and columns missing from a table are filled with null.
- How do I append more than two tables?
- Choose Three or more tables in the Append dialog and add every table to the list.