In this tutorial, you will learn how to copy a formula down in Google Sheets.
How To Copy a Formula Down in Google Sheets
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When you create a formula in Google Sheets, you may want to copy it down to other cells in the column. This is a common task when creating new columns or fields in a table, and it can be done in a few different ways.
For example, let’s say you want to create a new field that concatenates the values of the previous two fields. Instead of typing the formula multiple times, we can just type the formula once and perform an action to copy it down the column.
In this guide, we will show you how to copy a formula down in Google Sheets. We’ll explain how to drag the formula down with your cursor. We will also explain how to use the Paste Special tool to achieve a similar effect.
How to use the AutoFill Tool to Copy a Formula in Google Sheets
Here’s how to use the AutoFill tool to copy a formula in Google Sheets.
Step 1
Select a cell that will evaluate the first instance of the formula you want to copy down.
In the example above, we’ve selected the cell D2.
Step 2
Write down the formula for creating the new field. Hit the Enter key to evaluate the formula.
In this example, we’ll multiply the value in column C with 0.25 to get the tax of each transaction.
Step 3
Use the cursor to drag the blue square until the desired cell.
Step 4
Release the cursor to copy the formula down the covered range.
Step 5
You may also double-click on the blue square to copy a formula down the column until the last non-empty row.
Step 6
Next, we’ll explain how to use the Paste Special option to copy a formula down a range.
First, select the cell with the desired formula.Use the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut to copy the selected cell.
Step 7
Next, select the cell range you want to repeat the copied formula.
In this example, we want to apply the formula to the range D2:D20.
Step 8
Right-click on the range and select Paste special > Formula only.
Step 9
The selected range should now fill up with the copied formula. The formulas will automatically use relative cell references to evaluate the proper result.
Summary
This guide should be everything you need to copy a formula down in Google Sheets.
You may make a copy of this example spreadsheet to test it out on your own.