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When working in a spreadsheet, there are many reasons why you may need to copy a formula to single or multiple cells. These may be adjacent - column or row - or located in different parts of the spreadsheet. In any case, Microsoft Excel offers multiple options for copying and pasting formulas and other parts or features of the cell’s contents.

In this guide, you will learn how to copy and paste a formula to a single cell, an entire column or row, or non-adjacent cells. First, you will review absolute vs. relative referencing before learning nine different methods for copying formulas in Excel: using simple paste, using special paste (formulas), pasting to multiple non-adjacent cells, converting a range to an Excel table to copy the formula automatically, using the array formula shortcut, using the fill tool, double-clicking or dragging the fill handle, and using a keyboard shortcut.

Absolute vs. Relative Referencing in Formulas

The type of referencing you use determines whether the references change when you copy a formula. In some cases, you want the references to be relative so that they will adapt to refer to whichever row or column to which you are copying. However, sometimes you need to keep the column or row fixed with absolute referencing, and sometimes you need the formula to remain anchored to the original cells.

Absolute Referencing

To ensure that you refer to a specific cell, use absolute referencing for the column and row. Regardless of where you copy the formula, it will always refer to those specific cells.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Absolute Referencing
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Absolute Referencing

Mixed Referencing

To ensure that the column is fixed but the formula adjusts to the row it’s copied to, use absolute referencing for the column and relative for the row.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Fixed Column
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Fixed Column

To fix the row and not the column, use absolute referencing for the row only.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Fixed Row
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Fixed Row

Relative Referencing

Finally, use relative referencing for both to allow the column and row to change relative to the cell’s location.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Relative Referencing
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Relative Referencing

How to Copy and Paste a Formula in Excel?

There are various ways to copy and paste a formula in Microsoft Excel. You can copy it using any of the available methods, including right-clicking to see the menu or using the shortcuts: Ctrl + c (Windows) or Cmd + c (Mac).

Select the cells where you want to paste.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Copy Cells
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Copy Cells

Use the shortcut - Ctrl + v or Cmd + v - or right-click and select paste. This will reproduce the cell exactly, including the formula and the format. However, the type of referencing will depend on the original cell. Using relative referencing in the original formula will adapt the references to the new location.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Simple Paste
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Simple Paste

Special Paste Options

If you want to keep the formula only, use ‘Paste Special’ and choose ‘Formulas’.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Paste Formulas Only
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Paste Formulas Only

However, as you can see in the screenshot below, Microsoft Excel features a variety of special options for pasting.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Paste Special
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Paste Special

Click ‘Paste Special…’ to see even more options.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods More Paste Special Options
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - More Paste Special Options
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How to Copy a Formula to Non-Adjacent Cells in Excel?

Follow the steps below to copy formulas to non-adjacent cells.

  1. 1. Copy the cell with the formula. Remember to use absolute referencing if you want the formula to remain the same.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Copy Cell with Formula
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Copy Cell with Formula
  1. 2. Select the first cell and hold down Ctrl or Cmd while selecting the rest.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Select Cells
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Select Cells
  1. 3. Press Ctrl + v or Cmd + v to copy the contents to the selected cells.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Paste Shortcut
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Paste Shortcut

How to Copy a Formula Down a Column in Excel?

There are multiple ways to copy a formula to a column or row in Microsoft Excel. Below, you will learn how to use six different methods.

Create Excel Table to Add Formula to Entire Column Automatically

The simplest way to ensure that your formula is automatically adjusted and copied down to the last row is to turn your range of data into an Excel table.

  1. 1. Select any cell in the range and press Ctrl + t (Windows) or Cmd + t (Mac).
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Convert to Excel Table
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Convert to Excel Table
  1. 2. Type your formula into the first cell of the column where you want the results. In this case, I want to multiply the value in the amount column by 0.1 (10%).
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Type Formula
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Type Formula
  1. 3. As soon as you press ‘Enter’, the formula is copied down to the last row.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Press Enter to Apply to Column
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Press Enter to Apply to Column

Use Array Formula Shortcut

If you don’t want to convert your data to an Excel table, you can use the array shortcut to apply the formula to the entire column. Like in the previous example, I want to multiply each value in the first column by 0.1 (10%).

  1. 1. Select the cells to which you want to copy the formula and click on the formula bar.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Select Column
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Select Column
  1. 2. Type the formula and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Type Formula Use Shortcut
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Type Formula & Use Shortcut
  1. 3. The formula is applied, and the results appear in the selected cells.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Formula Copied Down
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Formula Copied Down
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Use Fill Tool

The fill tool allows you to copy the cell and fill up, down, left, or right. Select the cells - including the one with the formula - and go to ‘Editing’ in the ‘Home’ tab.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Home Editing
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Home > Editing

Click to see the ‘Fill’ drop-down menu. In this case, I will select ‘Down’.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Fill Menu
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Fill Menu

As you can see, the formula has been copied down, and the references adjusted.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Formula Copied to Column
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Formula Copied to Column

Double-Click Fill Handle

Select the cell with the formula and double-click the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of the cell to copy it down.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Double Click Fill Handle
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Double-Click Fill Handle

The formula is automatically copied down to the last row.

How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Formula Copied to Last Row
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Formula Copied to Last Row

Drag Fill Handle

Alternatively, you can drag the fill handle to copy the formula.

  1. 1. Select the cell with the formula and grab the fill handle.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Grab Fill Handle
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Grab Fill Handle
  1. 2. Drag it over the cells to which you want to copy in any direction you want.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Drag to Copy
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Drag to Copy

Use Shortcut

Finally, you can use a keyboard shortcut to copy the formula down to the selected cells instantly.

  1. 1. Select the cell with the formula and the relevant cells in the column.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Copy Cell Select Column
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Copy Cell & Select Column
  1. 2. Paste and press Ctrl + d (Windows) or Cmd + d (Mac). To copy across a row instead of down a column, select the row and use Ctrl + r or Cmd + r.
How to Copy a Formula in Excel 9 Easy Methods Paste Use Shortcut
How to Copy a Formula in Excel? 9 Easy Methods - Paste & Use Shortcut

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Conclusion

There are multiple ways to copy formulas in Microsoft Excel, depending on your preference and how the data is structured. Suppose the cells referenced in your formula are spread out over your spreadsheet or contained within multiple ranges with different structures. In that case, it’s especially important to use the appropriate referencing for each cell: absolute, relative, or mixed.

The simplest way to ensure that your formulas are accurately copied to a whole column in a table is to turn the range into an Excel table. If you don’t want to use an Excel table, you know there are multiple methods you can use to copy a formula in any direction you want. These methods include using the array formula shortcut, using the fill tool, dragging or double-clicking the cell’s fill handle, and using a keyboard shortcut to copy the formula down or across the selected cells.

To learn how to lock cells, transfer data, and other Excel topics, check out the guides on:

Maria Del Olmo
Originally published Mar 21 2023, Updated Mar 22 2023