Microsoft Excel’s flexibility and utility have changed how we handle numerical data. One of the key features that empowers users is the ability to solve complex calculations using formulas. However, the real trick is knowing how to easily copy these formulas to other cells and ranges, saving you time and effort while ensuring accuracy.
In this article, we discussed various ways to copy a formula from one cell to another in Excel in simple steps.
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Copy and Paste formula
The simplest way to copy a formula is by using Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.
For Example: We have entered a formula =A4+A5 in cell A6. To copy the formula from A6 to B6, select cell A6 and press Ctrl + C.
To paste the formula to B6, select cell B6 and press Ctrl + V.
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Use the fill handle
If you want to copy the formula in multiple cells in rows or columns, then you can use the fill handle to drag and copy the formula.
For Example: We want to copy the formula =A4+A5 from cells A6 to B6 and C6. To copy the formula, select cell A6, hover over the bottom right corner of the cell and then click on the fill handle (+ sign) and drag it to cell C6.
If you have large dataset and dont want to drag it to the end of the row or column then you can simple hover the bottom right corner of the cell and double-click the fill handle.
Result: The formula was copied in cells B6 and C6.
To copy the formula in columns, follow the same steps.
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Move the formula
You can use Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V to move a formula.
For Example: We want to move the formula from cell A6 to B6. To move the formula, select cell A6 and press Ctrl + X.
You can also use the four directional cursor to click and drag the formula to the cell you want to paste it.
To paste the formula, select cell B6 and press Ctrl + V.
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Copy the formula without changing the cell reference
If you don’t want to change a cell reference, you can use the $ sign before the cell reference to make it an absolute reference. The absolute reference (with the $ sign) does not change, and the relative reference will change (without the $ sign).
For Example: We want to add the value in cell B2 to all the values in column C. We will use the formula =$B$2+C2. Adding the $ sign made the cell reference B2 an absolute reference, meaning when you copy the formula to other cells, the absolute reference, B2, will not change. Still, the relative reference, which is C2, will change.
Result of formula.
Now, when you copy the formula in different cells, the absolute reference B2 doesn’t change, and the relative reference changes.
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