How to Copy Formulas in Excel to Other Rows: Step by Step

To copy a formula into rows below it in Excel, select the cell that contains the formula and drag its fill handle down, or select the destination cells and press Ctrl+D on Windows. Excel adjusts relative cell references for each row automatically. Before you start, make sure the first formula is correct and decide whether any references should stay fixed.

What You’ll Need

An Excel workbook with a formula in at least one cell.
Rows where you want the formula copied, and any source data those formulas should use.
A neighboring column filled through the rows you want to fill if you plan to use the fill handle’s double-click shortcut.

You do not need a special add-in or setting. These instructions are for Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The fill handle and copy-and-paste methods also work in Excel for the web, though the ribbon and pointer behavior can vary slightly. On a Mac, use the same ribbon options; for keyboard shortcuts, use the Mac equivalents noted below.

Step-by-Step

Check the formula in the first row. Click the cell that contains the formula and look at the formula bar above the worksheet. Confirm that it refers to the intended cells in that row. For example, with unit prices in B2 and quantities in C2, enter =B2*C2 in D2. If B2 contains 8 and C2 contains 3, D2 returns 24. This example assumes each row has a price in column B, a quantity in column C, and the calculated amount in column D. If the first-row formula is wrong, copying it will repeat the mistake.
Choose how to fill the rows. Use the fill handle when the destination cells are directly below the formula and you can drag or double-click. Use Fill Down for a precise block of adjacent cells, especially when you know exactly how many rows to include. Use copy and paste when the target is elsewhere, is not a continuous block, or needs to go to another worksheet. All three methods copy the formula; they differ in how you select the destination.
Drag the fill handle to copy into a known range. Select the formula cell, such as D2 in the example. Move the pointer to the small square at the lower-right corner of the selected cell. When the pointer changes to a thin black plus sign, press and hold the mouse button, drag down to the last destination row, and release. Dragging from D2 to D10 fills D3:D10 as well as keeping the formula in D2. Check the last row to confirm that the formula reached the intended endpoint.
Double-click the fill handle when adjacent data marks the endpoint. Select the formula cell and double-click its lower-right fill handle. Excel typically fills the formula down alongside the continuous block of data in a neighboring column. For instance, if D2 has the formula and B2:B25 contains uninterrupted data, Excel will usually fill down to row 25. This is convenient for a long list, but it relies on the neighboring data to identify the range. If there are blank cells or the relevant adjacent column ends early, drag to a specific row instead and verify the result.
Use Fill Down for an exact continuous selection. Select the formula cell and the cells below it that should receive the formula. For example, select D2:D20 if D2 contains the correct starting formula and the formula should also appear through D20. On the ribbon, choose Home > Fill > Down. On Windows, Ctrl+D performs the same fill-down action for the selected range. Excel uses the top cell in the selection as the source and fills the cells below it. If you select only D3:D20 without including D2, Excel will not use D2 as the source; include the source cell in the selection.
Copy and paste when the destination is separate. Select the formula cell and press Ctrl+C on Windows, select the destination cell or range, then press Ctrl+V. On a Mac, use Command+C and Command+V. To fill a continuous destination block, select the same-sized range beginning with the source cell before pasting, or copy the source and select the destination range. Excel normally copies formulas along with their relative references and formatting. If you need only the formula and not the source formatting, use the Paste Options button that appears after pasting and choose the formulas option, when available.
Review the copied formulas and results. Click a few filled cells, including the first and last destination rows, and inspect the formula bar. With the example layout of prices in B, quantities in C, and amounts in D, the formula copied from D2 should refer to B3 and C3 in D3, then B4 and C4 in D4. Compare the displayed results with the source values. Also check for blanks, unexpected zeros, or errors before relying on the filled column.

For a different example, suppose B2 contains a price of 10, C2 contains a quantity of 2, and F1 contains a tax rate of 8%. With those values in place, enter =B2*C2*(1+$F$1) in D2. The result is 21.60. When this formula is copied down, the references to B2 and C2 change to the corresponding row, while $F$1 remains fixed. This is useful when every row uses the same tax rate or other shared input.

Common Mistakes

Filling the wrong number of rows: A drag can stop one row too early or continue farther than intended. Before using a filled column, check the row number of the last destination cell. With a double-click, do not assume Excel has identified the endpoint you had in mind; it follows nearby data patterns.

Forgetting that references move: A formula such as =B2*C2 uses relative references. When copied one row down, Excel changes them to B3 and C3, which is usually what you want for row-by-row calculations. But a reference to a constant cell can move too unless you make it absolute, as in $F$1. A dollar sign before the column letter locks the column; one before the row number locks the row; two lock both.

Selecting only the destination for Fill Down: Home > Fill > Down and Ctrl+D take the formula from the top cell of the selection. Include the cell with the correct formula at the top. If your selection starts below that cell, use copy and paste instead, or expand the selection to include the source.

Overwriting existing content: Filling or pasting into a range can replace values or formulas already there. Check the destination cells before you fill. If you overwrite something important, use Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on a Mac, provided you have not closed the workbook or performed an action that clears the undo history.

Assuming a displayed number proves the formula is right: A copied formula can return a plausible number while pointing to the wrong cells. Select cells in several rows and check their references in the formula bar, especially after moving a formula sideways or using mixed references.

Tips

Use the right reference type. Relative references such as B2 adjust in both directions when copied. Absolute references such as $B$2 stay fixed. Mixed references such as $B2 keep column B fixed while allowing the row to change, and B$2 keep row 2 fixed while allowing the column to change. In Excel for Windows, press F4 while editing a selected cell reference to cycle through reference styles. On some laptops, you may need Fn+F4; Mac keyboards and settings can differ, so typing the dollar signs directly is a dependable alternative.
Turn a changing list into an Excel Table. Select the data and choose Insert > Table, or use Ctrl+T on Windows, then confirm whether the table has headers. When you enter a formula in a table column, Excel often fills that calculated column automatically and carries the formula into new table rows. Check that the result is a table and not just a formatted range if automatic column filling is important.
Use the fill handle with care around gaps. A double-click is quickest when the adjacent list is continuous. If the neighboring column has blanks, or the list has a different endpoint from the formula column, drag the handle or use a selected range with Fill Down to control exactly where the formulas go.
Keep formula and formatting choices separate. Ordinary dragging and pasting may carry formatting as well as formulas. If the destination already has the correct number format, use the Paste Options control to paste formulas only, or use the fill command and inspect the result. The available paste choices can depend on the selection and Excel version.
Check calculation behavior if results appear unchanged. Excel normally recalculates formulas automatically. If results do not update after copying or changing source values, check Formulas > Calculation Options and make sure Automatic is selected. In manual calculation mode, press F9 on Windows to recalculate the workbook.

Troubleshooting

The fill handle is not visible: Select the cell again and look at its lower-right corner. If the small square is missing, open File > Options > Advanced and, under Editing options, check Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop. This setting is for Excel on Windows; Excel for the web has a different interface and does not use the same Options dialog. You can still select a range and use Home > Fill > Down.

Double-click fills too far or stops too soon: Excel uses adjacent data to estimate the extent of the list. Fill handle behavior can be affected by blank rows and by which neighboring column contains data. Undo the fill if needed, then drag to the intended row or select the exact range, including the source formula cell, and choose Home > Fill > Down.

The copied formula shows an error: Click the cell and inspect the formula bar. If you see a reference error such as #REF!, a referenced cell or range may have been deleted or moved. If you see #DIV/0!, check whether the formula is dividing by a blank or zero value in that row. A copied formula may correctly adapt to a row whose source data is incomplete, so compare that row’s inputs before changing the formula.

Every row shows the same result: The formula may contain absolute references that lock a row or column you expected to change. Inspect the formula for dollar signs. Remove the dollar signs from references that should move when copied, but keep them on cells that should stay fixed. You can edit the first formula and fill the range again; check the output before continuing.

The formula appears as text instead of calculating: The cell may be formatted as Text, or the formula may have an apostrophe before the equals sign. Change the cell format to General, edit the cell, and press Enter. If the formula is displayed in every cell instead of results, check whether Formulas > Show Formulas is turned on. Toggle it off to return to the normal result display.

The results look stale: Confirm that calculation is set to Automatic under Formulas > Calculation Options. In a large workbook using manual calculation, copied formulas may not show updated results until recalculation. Press F9 on Windows, then check that the source values and formulas are correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I copy a formula down without dragging?
Select the source formula cell and the destination cells below it, including the source at the top. Press Ctrl+D on Windows, or choose Home > Fill > Down. On a Mac, the ribbon command is also available; the keyboard shortcut may depend on the keyboard and Excel settings.

Will Excel change cell references when I copy a formula?
Yes, relative references usually adjust based on the new position. For example, a reference to B2 in a formula copied down one row becomes B3. Add dollar signs to references that need to stay fixed, such as $F$1.

Can I copy a formula into non-adjacent rows?
Yes. Copy the formula cell, then select the destination cells or ranges while holding Ctrl on Windows to select separate areas, and paste. Be careful: each pasted formula adjusts references according to its new location. For separate rows, inspect the results to confirm the references match the data in those rows.

Why does double-clicking the fill handle not fill every row?
Double-click fill uses nearby data to decide how far to go. A blank cell or a shorter neighboring list can make Excel stop early. Drag to the last row or select the exact range and use Fill Down instead.

Can I copy a formula without copying its formatting?
Usually. After pasting, open the Paste Options button and choose the formulas-only option if it appears. This keeps the formula while avoiding the source cell’s formatting. If you do not see that option, use the fill command and check the destination formatting afterward.

Does this work in Excel for the web and on Mac?
The fill handle, copying, and ribbon fill commands are available in Excel for the web and on Mac, though controls can look different. Windows shortcuts such as Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are Command+C and Command+V on Mac. If a fill shortcut is inconvenient or behaves differently on your keyboard, use Home > Fill > Down.

Try it: the Formula Explainer: paste any formula and see each function and reference in plain English.

More in Formulas & functions

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

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