How to Copy a Formula in Excel Across Multiple Rows

To copy a formula down rows in Excel, enter it in the first cell, then drag the fill handle downward or select the destination range and choose Home > Fill > Down (Ctrl+D on Windows). Excel adjusts relative cell references as the formula moves, so each row can calculate using its own data. The steps below cover the quickest methods, how to keep references fixed when needed, and how to check that copied results are right.

What You’ll Need

A workbook open in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The fill handle and ribbon methods are also available in Excel for Mac and Excel for the web, though shortcuts and some settings can differ.
A column or row of data for the formula to use, plus a destination range where you want the copied formulas.
A formula in the first cell of that destination range. If you have not made one yet, enter and check it before copying.

Step-by-Step

Set up the columns and identify the formula range. Decide which column should contain the results and which data cells each result should refer to. For example, imagine column B contains quantities, column C contains a score per item, and column D will calculate a row total. If row 2 is your first data row and row 20 is your last, the formula needs to go in D2 and be copied through D20. Keep a header in row 1 rather than including it in the formula range.
Enter the formula in the first result cell. In this example, with quantities in B2:B20, scores per item in C2:C20, and row totals in D2:D20, enter =B2*C2 in D2. If B2 contains 3 and C2 contains 12, D2 returns 36. Press Enter, then select D2 again to check that the result appears and that the formula refers to the intended cells. Use your own cell references if your data is arranged differently.
Copy down with the fill handle. Select D2 and find the small square at the lower-right corner of the cell outline. This is the fill handle. Point to it until the pointer changes to a small black plus sign, then drag down to D20 and release. Excel fills the selected cells with the formula. When you copy a formula containing relative references, the references move with it: D3 will use B3 and C3, D4 will use B4 and C4, and so on.
Use a double-click for a long, adjacent data list. If the column immediately beside your formula column contains a continuous block of data, select D2 and double-click its fill handle. Excel usually fills the formula down to match the length of that adjacent list. This can save time on a large worksheet. Check the last filled row afterward: a blank cell in the neighboring data column may cause Excel to stop early, and nearby data in another column can affect where it stops.
Fill a selected range with the ribbon or a shortcut. Select the source formula cell and all the cells below it that should receive a copy, such as D2:D20. The top cell in the selection must contain the formula. On Windows, choose Home > Fill > Down, or press Ctrl+D. Excel copies the top cell into the rest of the selected range. On a Mac, Command+D is the usual Fill Down shortcut; if your keyboard settings intercept it, use Home > Fill > Down instead. In Excel for the web, the ribbon command or fill handle is a practical option if a desktop shortcut behaves differently in your browser.
Copy and paste when you want to choose the destination yourself. Select the formula cell and press Ctrl+C on Windows, then select the destination cells and press Ctrl+V. On a Mac, use Command+C and Command+V. You can select a contiguous range, or paste into another appropriate area of the sheet. Excel normally adjusts relative references for the new location. If you want to paste only formulas rather than formatting, use the paste options that appear after pasting and choose the formulas option, or use Paste Special and select Formulas. The exact presentation of paste options can vary by Excel version.
Keep a reference fixed when the copied formula needs it. By default, references such as B2 and C2 are relative: they change as you fill the formula down. Sometimes one input cell should remain the same in every row. For example, with quantities in B2:B20, scores in C2:C20, and a fixed multiplier of 1.1 in F1, enter =B2*C2*$F$1 in D2. With B2 equal to 3 and C2 equal to 12, the result is 39.6. The dollar signs lock both the column and row of F1, so a copied formula continues to use that cell while B2 and C2 advance to the next row. In Windows, select a reference while editing the formula and press F4 to cycle through reference styles. On Mac, the shortcut can depend on the keyboard; you can type the dollar signs directly if necessary.
Review the copied formulas and results. Click a few cells near the top, middle, and bottom of the filled range. Look at the formula bar to confirm that row-specific references point to the matching data row and that any fixed reference remains fixed. Check the final row as well, since a fill can stop too soon or extend farther than intended. If the numbers look plausible but the references are wrong, correct the formula in the first cell and fill the range again.
Consider using an Excel table for recurring rows. If you regularly add new records, select the data and choose Insert > Table, confirming that the table has headers if it does. When you enter a formula in a table column, Excel commonly fills it through the existing rows as a calculated column and applies it to new rows. Tables are useful for growing lists, but verify the result after entering the first formula, especially if the column already contains different formulas or values.

Common Mistakes

Dragging the wrong corner. The fill handle is the small square at the lower-right of the selected cell, not the cell border or a selection handle elsewhere. If Excel selects cells instead of filling them, move the pointer carefully until it changes to the fill cursor.

Copying a relative reference that should stay fixed. A formula such as B2*C2 is meant to change row by row. A shared input cell, such as a multiplier, usually needs an absolute reference like $F$1. If you omit the dollar signs, copying down shifts F1 to F2, F3, and later rows.

Including a heading or the wrong starting cell. Fill Down uses the top cell of the selected range as its source. If the selection begins in a heading or blank cell, Excel may copy the wrong content. Start the selection at the cell containing the correct formula.

Assuming copied results are automatically correct. Excel can fill a formula successfully while still using an unintended column, an incorrect range, or an unsuitable reference style. Check formulas as well as displayed values, particularly when the workbook contains blanks, hidden rows, or mixed data.

Tips

For a range with a known end, selecting the full destination range and using Fill Down gives more control than dragging a handle a long distance.
Use the formula bar to inspect a cell without changing the worksheet layout. Comparing the first and last formulas is a quick way to spot a reference that shifted unexpectedly.
If the fill handle is missing in Windows Excel, check File > Options > Advanced > Editing options and make sure Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop is selected. On a Mac, look in Excel > Settings (or Preferences) > Edit for the fill-handle setting; the wording can differ by release.
When copying formulas into an existing range, consider whether existing formatting should remain. Regular paste can bring formatting along; a formulas-only paste is useful when you want to preserve the destination cells’ appearance.
Keep a copy of important workbook data before making large changes. That gives you a way back if you fill the wrong range and then make further edits.

Troubleshooting

The formula appears only in the first cell. Confirm that you dragged the fill handle rather than the cell border. With the ribbon method, select the formula cell and the destination cells together before choosing Home > Fill > Down. If the fill handle is unavailable, check the setting described in Tips.

The double-click stops too early. Excel uses neighboring data to estimate how far to fill. Look for a blank cell in the adjacent column. If there is one, drag the handle to the exact last row or select the full destination range and use Fill Down.

The answers repeat or use the wrong cells. Select a copied cell and inspect its formula. If each row should use its own data, make sure the changing references do not have dollar signs locking them. If one input should remain constant, lock that reference with dollar signs. Correct the first formula and refill the range rather than manually editing every row.

The cells show formulas instead of results. The worksheet may be displaying formulas. Press Ctrl+` on Windows to toggle Show Formulas, or check Formulas > Show Formulas. On a Mac, the shortcut can vary, so use the ribbon command. Also check whether the cell is formatted as Text; if so, change it to General, edit the formula cell, and press Enter so Excel recalculates it.

The result looks stale or does not update. Check Formulas > Calculation Options and choose Automatic if the workbook is set to manual calculation. You can also press F9 to recalculate in Windows Excel. If a copied formula returns an error, inspect its referenced cells and the data they contain; copying does not correct errors already present in the source formula.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I copy a formula down an entire column?
Select the formula cell and double-click its fill handle if the neighboring column has continuous data. For a defined range, select the formula cell and the cells beneath it, then choose Home > Fill > Down. Check the last row to confirm the fill reached the intended end.

Will Excel change cell references when I copy a formula?
Yes, relative references normally adjust according to the formula’s new position. For example, a reference to B2 becomes B3 when the formula moves down one row. Add dollar signs to a reference, such as $B$2, when it must stay fixed.

How do I copy a formula without changing the cell references?
Make the references absolute by adding dollar signs to the column and row, such as $B$2. If you only need to lock the column or only the row, use a mixed reference such as $B2 or B$2. Choose the style based on which part should move when the formula is copied.

Can I copy a formula across rows using only the keyboard?
Yes. Select the formula cell and the cells below it, then press Ctrl+D in Windows Excel or usually Command+D in Excel for Mac. You can also use Home > Fill > Down. The top cell in the selected range must contain the formula you want to copy.

Why does double-clicking the fill handle not fill every row?
Double-click fill depends on nearby data to determine the destination. A blank in that data can make Excel stop early. Drag the handle to the last row yourself or select the exact range and use Fill Down instead.

Can I copy a formula to non-adjacent rows?
Yes, but the fill handle and Fill Down are designed for a continuous selection. For separated destinations, copy the formula cell and paste into each selected destination, or handle each block separately. Check how references adjust in each location, since the formula may point to different source rows after pasting.

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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