How to Rename a Column in SQL Server
Last updated July 25, 2026 · By the SaturnSQL team
Use EXEC sp_rename 'table.column', 'new_name', 'COLUMN'. The old name is one 'table.column' string (optionally schema-qualified), and the new name is the bare column name only.
EXEC sp_rename 'orders.amount', 'order_amount', 'COLUMN';Schema-qualified
EXEC sp_rename 'dbo.orders.amount', 'order_amount', 'COLUMN';SQL Server warns that renaming can break scripts: views, procedures, and application queries that reference the old column name are not updated for you.
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