If you are a spreadsheet junkie like me, chances are that you spend a lot of time copying down formulas. I do it all the time when I’m creating budgets or doing other financial stuff. If you are looking to save time while copying your formulas down one column or row, here’s a super quick tip:
If you’re copying a formula down an entire column, use the Fill Down tool.
If you’re copying a formula down an entire column, use the Fill Down tool.
The Fill Down tool is located in the toolbar above your spreadsheet. It looks like a downward-pointing arrow with an F on it. The Fill Down tool is not available on mobile devices or Google Sheets (the program formerly known as Spreadsheets).
Select all the cells you want to fill with the same formula and click ‘Fill Down’ in the toolbar above your spreadsheet.
To copy a formula down an entire column, select all the cells you want to fill with the same formula and click ‘Fill Down’ in the toolbar above your spreadsheet. If you don’t have access to that tool, do it manually by copying and pasting:
If you don’t have access to that tool, do it manually by copying and pasting.
If you don’t have access to that tool, do it manually by copying and pasting.
To copy a formula down an entire column in Google Sheets:
- Make sure the cell is selected.
- Press CTRL+C on your keyboard to copy the cell’s content. This creates an exact duplicate of its contents in your clipboard; if you want more than one column at once, select multiple cells before pressing CTRL+C.
- Select the next cell below where you want to paste this formula (or select multiple rows).
- Press CTRL+V on your keyboard again–this time without selecting anything first–and voila! Your new formula appears there
Highlight the cell and drag it down one row at a time (or however many rows you need).
Highlight the cell and drag it down one row at a time (or however many rows you need).
If you don’t want to highlight the whole column, click and drag down a few cells at a time. This will select only those cells that are directly below your cursor as you move it horizontally across the sheet.
You can also use Ctrl+Down key on your keyboard to copy the formula down the column without having to click anything.
This shortcut saves you time if your formulas are simple enough
If your formulas are simple enough, this shortcut saves you time.
In the example above, we’ve entered the formula for calculating profit in cell B4 and want to copy it down the column. Instead of manually entering each cell’s formula or using the Fill Down tool (which can be tedious if there are many rows), use this shortcut:
- Select all cells below where you want the new formula(s) entered by holding down Shift while clicking on them in turn with your mouse cursor or tapping on them one after another using two fingers on a touchscreen (this will highlight all cells). Then press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac).
There are many ways to copy a formula down an entire column in Google Sheets. If you’re copying a simple formula, use the Fill Down tool. If not, then you can do it manually by copying and pasting one row at a time (or however many rows you need). The most important thing is to save time by using the right method for each situation!
Here’s a step-by-step guide on How to copy a formula down an entire column in google sheets?:
- First, open Google Sheets and select the cell containing the formula that you want to copy down the entire column.
- Once you have selected the cell, hover your cursor over the tiny blue box located at the lower right corner of the cell until it turns into a black plus sign.
- Click and hold down the left mouse button on the box, and drag the plus sign down to the last cell where you want the formula to be copied.
- Release the left mouse button when you have reached the final cell, and then the formula will be automatically copied down the entire column.
- Finally, check that the copied formula is correct in all the cells.
That’s it! By following these easy steps, you should be able to quickly copy a formula down an entire column in Google Sheets. Let me know if you have any other questions.
FAQ:
1. Q: How can I copy a formula down an entire column in Google Sheets?
- A: To copy a formula down a column, click on the cell with the formula, drag the small square at the cell’s bottom right corner (called the fill handle) down as far as you need, and release it. The formula will be copied to all the selected cells.
2. Q: Is there a keyboard shortcut to copy a formula down in Google Sheets?
- A: Yes, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + D (Windows/Linux) or Command + D (Mac) after selecting the cell with the formula. This will copy the formula down the column.
3. Q: Can I copy a formula across multiple columns simultaneously?
- A: Yes, you can copy a formula across multiple columns by dragging the fill handle horizontally instead of vertically. The formula will be applied to all the selected cells in the rows.
4. Q: What happens if I copy a formula without adjusting the cell references?
- A: If you copy a formula without adjusting the cell references (using absolute references), the formula will behave as if it’s referring to the same cells in every row, which might not produce the desired results.
5. Q: How do I create an absolute reference in a formula to prevent it from changing when copied?
- A: To create an absolute reference, place a dollar sign before the column letter and/or row number in the cell reference. For example, $A$1 is an absolute reference to cell A1.
6. Q: Can I fill a column with a formula automatically in Google Sheets?
- A: Yes, you can double-click the fill handle (small square at the cell’s bottom right corner) after selecting the cell with the formula. Google Sheets will automatically fill the formula down the column until it encounters an adjacent column with data.
7. Q: Is there a way to fill down a formula based on adjacent non-empty cells in Google Sheets?
- A: Yes, you can use the Fill Down feature. Click on the cell with the formula, go to Edit > Fill > Down, and Google Sheets will fill the formula down the column based on adjacent non-empty cells.
8. Q: Can I copy a formula down a filtered column in Google Sheets?
- A: Yes, when you filter a column and copy a formula down, Google Sheets will apply the formula to the visible (filtered) cells only, excluding the hidden rows.
9. Q: How can I copy a formula down without dragging the fill handle manually?
- A: If you want to copy a formula down without dragging, you can copy the cell with the formula (Ctrl + C or Command + C) and then select the destination cells and paste (Ctrl + V or Command + V). The formula will be applied to the selected cells.
10. Q: Can I copy a formula down a column in Google Sheets using a custom step or interval?
- A: No, Google Sheets does not have a built-in feature to copy a formula down with a custom step or interval. Formulas are copied sequentially, cell by cell, in a continuous manner.