How to Autofill in Excel From the Cell Directly Above

To fill cells from the one above in Excel, select the source cell and the cells below it, then press Ctrl+D on Windows. Excel copies the top cell’s value, formatting, or formula down the selected range; formulas adjust their relative references for each row. You can also drag the fill handle for more control or to continue a series.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or Excel for Mac or the web. The steps are similar across versions, although keyboard shortcuts and browser behavior can differ.
A source cell containing the value, text, or formula you want to repeat, plus the destination cells directly below it.
A quick check that the destination cells can be overwritten. Fill Down replaces their existing contents.

Step-by-Step

Identify the source cell. Find the cell whose contents you want to copy. For example, if the formula or value to repeat is in D2, D2 is the source. The cells to fill must be in the same column beneath it. Fill Down does not look at whichever cell happens to be above each destination individually; it copies the top cell in the selection to every other selected cell.
Select the source and destination cells together. Click the source cell, then drag down to the last cell you want to fill. For a large range, click the source cell, hold Shift, and click the final destination cell. You can also click the Name Box to the left of the formula bar, type a range such as D2:D20, and press Enter. Include the source cell at the top of the range: selecting only D3:D20 would make D3 the source instead.
Use Fill Down. On Windows, press Ctrl+D. Excel copies the contents of the top cell in the selected range into the cells below. You can use the ribbon instead: choose Home > Fill > Down. On Mac, Control+D is the Fill Down shortcut in Excel; if your keyboard or system intercepts it, use Home > Fill > Down. In Excel for the web, use the ribbon command if your browser captures a shortcut.
Check the result before moving on. Click one of the filled cells and inspect the formula bar. A copied value should match the source. A copied formula may look different because Excel adjusts relative references. For example, with prices in B2:B20 and quantities in C2:C20, enter =B2*C2 in D2. Select D2:D4 and use Fill Down: D2 calculates 12 if B2 is 3 and C2 is 4; D3 uses B3*C3; and D4 uses B4*C4. The displayed results in those later rows depend on their own prices and quantities.
Use the fill handle when you want to drag. Select the source cell and point at the small square in its bottom-right corner. When the pointer becomes a thin black plus sign, drag down to the last destination cell and release. This copies the cell or formula through the range. If you want to fill a long block beside a continuous data column, double-click the fill handle; Excel usually extends the fill to match the neighboring column’s data. Check the endpoint, because blanks in that neighboring column can stop the fill early.
Choose copying or a series deliberately. Ctrl+D copies the source cell’s content down; it does not normally build a number sequence. Dragging the fill handle can copy a value or, in some cases, continue a recognizable series. If you want an exact repeat, use Fill Down or choose Copy Cells from the Auto Fill Options button that may appear after dragging. If you want a sequence such as 1, 2, 3, enter the first two values, select both, and drag the fill handle. Inspect the result because Excel’s behavior depends on the selected starting values.
Fill only the rows you intend to change. Before the shortcut or ribbon command, confirm the selection in the worksheet. If the range includes a header, another column, or rows with existing data, those cells may be overwritten. If you need to preserve existing entries, do not apply Fill Down to the whole block; identify the blank destination cells and handle only those rows using an appropriate method.

Common Mistakes

Leaving out the source cell: Excel uses the top cell of the selected range as the source. If you select D3:D20, it fills D3 into the rest of the selection, not D2. Include D2 when D2 is the cell to copy.
Filling across instead of down: Ctrl+D fills down a column. To copy the leftmost cell across a row, select that cell and the destination cells to its right, then use Home > Fill > Right or Alt+H, R on Windows. These are different directions and should not be confused.
Expecting a formula to remain identical: Relative references move as a formula is filled. A formula in D2 referring to B2 will refer to B3 when copied to D3. That is usually correct for row-by-row calculations, but not if every row should refer to one fixed cell.
Replacing existing data unintentionally: Fill Down overwrites the contents of destination cells, including formulas. Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac if you filled the wrong range. Save a copy first when the workbook contains important data or the selection is difficult to verify.
Assuming a drag always repeats exactly: The fill handle may extend a series rather than simply repeat a value. Use Fill Down for a predictable copy, or review Auto Fill Options after dragging.

Tips

Lock references when a formula must use one fixed cell. If a formula should always refer to a particular row or column while being filled, use dollar signs in the reference. For instance, with each row’s amount in B2:B20 and a fixed tax rate in F1, enter =B2*$F$1 in C2 and fill C2:C20. The row reference B2 adjusts as the formula moves, while $F$1 stays fixed. Press F4 while editing a reference in Windows Excel to cycle through reference styles; on Mac, the shortcut can depend on the keyboard settings, so typing the dollar signs is a reliable alternative.
Use the ribbon if you forget the shortcut. Home > Fill > Down is a visible alternative to Ctrl+D and helps confirm that you are applying a downward fill. The command is useful when keyboard shortcuts are unavailable or reserved by a browser.
Make a table for ongoing row-by-row formulas. If you regularly add records, convert the data range to a table with Insert > Table. A formula entered in a table column commonly fills through that calculated column and is applied to new rows. Check the table’s column results after entering a formula, especially if the workbook has custom table settings.
Keep formatting in mind. Fill Down can copy the top cell’s formatting as well as its content. If the destination cells have formatting you need to keep, use the fill handle and its Auto Fill Options where available, or apply the desired number format again afterward. Check dates, percentages, and currency values, since a correct underlying value can look wrong under an unexpected format.
Use a clear selection for large ranges. The Name Box can select a precise range quickly. For example, type D2:D5000 there and press Enter, then use Fill Down. Confirm the column letter and endpoints before filling; a single mistaken range can change many cells at once.

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens when you press Ctrl+D. Make sure Excel, rather than the formula bar or another app, has focus and that at least two cells in one column are selected. If the shortcut is intercepted, choose Home > Fill > Down. In Excel for the web, browser shortcuts can vary, so the ribbon is often the simplest fallback.
The wrong value is repeated. Check the top cell of your selection. Fill Down takes its source from that cell, not from the cell immediately above each destination in turn. Reselect the range with the correct source at the top, then fill again. If you have already overwritten data, use Undo before making further edits.
Formulas show unexpected results. Click a filled cell and compare its formula with the source. If a reference should stay fixed, add dollar signs, such as $F$1. If the formula should refer to the current row, make sure it uses relative references such as B2 rather than a fixed reference such as $B$2. Also verify that the source formula itself is correct before copying it.
The result shows #### or an unexpected date or decimal. This can be a display issue rather than a failed fill. Widen the column by double-clicking the boundary between its header letters, or choose an appropriate number format from Home > Number. A serial date displayed as a number, for example, may need a date format; a long number may need a wider column.
The fill handle is hard to see or will not drag. Confirm that you selected one cell and look for the tiny square at its lower-right corner. If dragging is disabled, check Excel’s setting under File > Options > Advanced and make sure Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop is selected. This Windows setting may not be located identically in Excel for Mac. Use the ribbon Fill Down command as a workaround.
Double-clicking the fill handle stops too soon. Excel uses neighboring data to estimate how far to fill. If that column contains a blank row, the fill may end there. Drag the handle to the intended final row or select the exact range with the Name Box and use Fill Down.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I copy the cell above into the cell below in Excel?
Select both cells, with the source cell above the destination, and press Ctrl+D on Windows. On Mac, use Control+D or Home > Fill > Down. The command copies the top selected cell into the lower one.

Can Excel fill down automatically when I type a formula?
In an Excel table, a formula entered in a calculated column often fills through the other rows in that column. In a regular range, select the source and destination cells and use Fill Down or the fill handle. Automatic behavior can depend on workbook and table settings.

Will Fill Down copy formatting too?
It can copy the source cell’s formatting along with its content. If you need the destination’s existing appearance, check the result and restore the desired number format or use the available Auto Fill Options after dragging.

How can I fill down without changing formulas?
Fill Down replaces destination contents, so it cannot preserve formulas in cells it fills. Select only cells that are safe to replace. If you need to keep particular formulas, exclude those rows from the selection and fill the remaining ranges separately.

Why does my formula change when I autofill?
Excel adjusts relative references to match each row. A reference to B2 normally becomes B3 in the next row. Use an absolute reference such as $B$2 if the formula must keep pointing to the same cell, or use a mixed reference to lock only the row or column.

Does the fill handle work in Excel for the web?
Yes. Select a cell and drag its fill handle to extend the value or formula. For a direct copy, select the source and destination range and use Home > Fill > Down if that command is available in your web ribbon. Check the filled formulas and range just as you would in desktop Excel.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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