✕
0 / 63

Copy and paste formulas in Excel

The first quarter already has its totals in row 5. Give the second quarter the same totals in B11:D11 by copying B5:D5 and pasting it, rather than typing the formulas again.

Select B5:D5 and press Ctrl+C: a moving border shows what you copied. Click B11 and press Ctrl+V. A pasted formula keeps its shape but moves its references by the same distance as the cell: six rows down, SUM(B2:B4) becomes SUM(B8:B10). Copy the cell, not the text in the formula bar: copied text keeps its old references.

15 Copy and paste a formula Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V Starter

regions.xlsx
Ready

Click a cell while typing to insert it, drag to select a range, F4 adds $, Esc cancels.

Tap a cell while writing a formula to insert it, or slide across cells for a range. The strip above the keyboard has = ( ) : , $.

The Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V guide

Select the cells, press Ctrl+C, click where they go and press Ctrl+V (⌘ on a Mac). A pasted formula keeps its shape, but its references move by the same distance as the cell: six rows down, SUM(B2:B4) becomes SUM(B8:B10).

StarterAbout 3 minutesBy Updated

What a paste does to a formula

Excel stores a reference like B2 as "two rows up, in this column" from the formula's own cell. Paste the formula somewhere else and it keeps pointing the same distance away. That's why one total row can be copied under every block of data, and why fill down works.

A reference locked with $, like $F$1, doesn't move. See absolute references.

Copy the cell, not the text

Clicking in the formula bar, selecting the formula and copying it copies text. Pasted into another cell, that text keeps its old references exactly as written: a second-quarter total that still adds up January to March. Copy the cell itself (select it, Ctrl+C), and Excel moves the references for you.

Cut moves, copy duplicates

Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V moves the cells. A moved formula keeps its references unchanged, and formulas elsewhere that pointed at the moved cells follow them. A copy leaves the original in place.

Pasting into a bigger range

Copy one cell, select a whole column of cells and paste: Excel fills every selected cell, each with its references moved to its own row. It's another way to fill down.

Common mistakes

To paste the result instead of the formula, see paste values.

FAQ

What is the shortcut to copy and paste in Excel?
Ctrl+C copies, Ctrl+X cuts and Ctrl+V pastes. On a Mac use Cmd instead of Ctrl.
Why do my formula references change when I paste?
Relative references move with the cell: a formula pasted three rows down points three rows further down. Lock a reference with $ ($A$1) to keep it fixed.
How do I copy a formula without changing the references?
Lock them with $ before copying, or copy the formula text from the formula bar and paste it into the other cell's formula bar. Copying text keeps the references exactly as written.
How do I stop the moving border after copying?
Press Esc. The dashed border shows what is on the clipboard; Excel clears it on its own once you type in a cell.

All challenges

  1. 01Starter, 3 min Add it upSUM
  2. 02Starter, 3 min Find the averageAVERAGE
  3. 03Starter, 3 min Smallest and largestMIN, MAX
  4. 04Starter, 3 min Count what's thereCOUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK
  5. 05Starter, 3 min Write once, fill downRelative references
  6. 06Core, 3 min Lock it with $Absolute references
  7. 07Starter, 3 min Percent of a totalPercentages
  8. 08Starter, 3 min Make the numbers readableNumber formats
  9. 09Core, 3 min Up or down by how much?Percent change
  10. 10Core, 3 min What you see vs what's storedROUND
  11. 11Core, 3 min The typical valueMEDIAN
  12. 12Core, 3 min Select to the end in one moveCtrl + Shift + arrow
  13. 13Starter, 3 min Sort without breaking rowsSort
  14. 14Starter, 3 min Filter to what mattersFilter
  15. 15Starter, 3 min Copy and paste a formulaCtrl+C, Ctrl+V
  16. 16Core, 3 min Paste values onlyPaste Special → Values
  17. 17Core, 3 min Highlight what's over targetConditional formatting
  18. 18Core, 3 min Spot the duplicatesDuplicate Values rule
  19. 19Core, 3 min Pass or fail?IF
  20. 20Core, 3 min Both or either?AND, OR
  21. 21Core, 3 min Exactly one of the twoXOR
  22. 22Core, 3 min Grade bands with nested IFNested IF
  23. 23Core, 3 min Count the ones that matchCOUNTIF
  24. 24Core, 3 min Add up the ones that matchSUMIF
  25. 25Core, 3 min Use a cell as the conditionCriteria in a cell
  26. 26Core, 3 min Partial matches with * and ?SUMIF, COUNTIF with wildcards
  27. 27Core, 3 min Count with two conditionsCOUNTIFS
  28. 28Core, 3 min Add up with two conditionsSUMIFS
  29. 29Core, 3 min Look it upVLOOKUP
  30. 30Core, 3 min Find the right bracketVLOOKUP approximate match
  31. 31Core, 3 min XLOOKUP, the modern wayXLOOKUP
  32. 32Core, 3 min Where is it in the list?MATCH
  33. 33Advanced, 3 min INDEX and MATCH togetherINDEX + MATCH
  34. 34Advanced, 3 min Lock just the row or the columnMixed references
  35. 35Advanced, 3 min Growth per year (CAGR)CAGR with ^
  36. 36Core, 3 min Use a rate from another sheetReferences to other sheets
  37. 37Core, 3 min Catch the error, not the bugIFERROR
  38. 38Core, 3 min Which invoices are missing?Compare two lists
  39. 39Core, 3 min Reconcile the ledger with the bankXLOOKUP or VLOOKUP + IFNA
  40. 40Core, 3 min Join text together&, CONCAT, PROPER
  41. 41Core, 3 min Split first and last namesLEFT, MID + FIND
  42. 42Core, 3 min Stray spaces that break a countTRIM
  43. 43Core, 3 min Flag the bad entriesTRIM, LEN, EXACT
  44. 44Advanced, 3 min Clean a bank descriptionTEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER, PROPER
  45. 45Core, 3 min Mistake hunt: #N/A everywhereFixing #N/A
  46. 46Core, 3 min Mistake hunt: hard-coded numbersReferences instead of typed numbers
  47. 47Core, 3 min Mistake hunt: numbers stored as textNumbers stored as text
  48. 48Core, 3 min One of each, then the totalsUNIQUE
  49. 49Core, 3 min Your first pivot tablePivot tables
  50. 50Advanced, 3 min Which category went up most?SUMIFS, change, lookup
  51. 51Core, 3 min How many days late?Date arithmetic
  52. 52Core, 3 min Turn text into real datesDATEVALUE
  53. 53Advanced, 3 min Month ends and working daysEOMONTH, NETWORKDAYS
  54. 54Core, 3 min Renewal datesEDATE
  55. 55Core, 3 min Days overdue and aging bandsDate difference, aging bands
  56. 56Core, 3 min How many late orders?Pick the tool
  57. 57Core, 3 min Sales per repPick the tool
  58. 58Core, 3 min Whose part is it?Pick the tool
  59. 59Core, 3 min Who gets the bonus?Pick the tool
  60. 60Core, 3 min Each region's sharePick the tool
  61. 61Advanced, 3 min Case: the supplier reportCase, five steps
  62. 62Advanced, 3 min Case: the monthly budgetCase, five steps
  63. 63Advanced, 3 min Case: the reorder listCase, five steps

The whole course, in order.

The challenges teach one move each. The course puts them in order and makes you do each one twice, the second time on data you haven't seen.

$29 One time. No subscription. Early-access price. Get Pro for $29

Secure checkout on Stripe.

  • CourseAll 63 ready lessons in order, plus every one we add. The first 5 are free. Each formula lesson ends with a second round on new data, no hints.
  • TestsYour score on the interview practice tests is free. Pro adds the full report: what went wrong on each task, and the lesson for it.
  • 14 daysNot what you hoped for? Full refund within 14 days, no questions. Refunds

Pro isn't open right now

Checkout is closed for the moment, so nothing was charged. Leave your email and we'll write once when it opens. The price is $29, one time.

One email when Pro opens. Unsubscribe in one click. Privacy
Continue

Sign in or create an account

No password. Your solved challenges then follow you to any device.

Signing in sets one cookie that keeps you signed in. Privacy