Google Sheets Duplicate Table: Copy Data or a Whole Sheet

To duplicate a table in Google Sheets, select its cells, copy them, and paste them into a new location; to copy the entire worksheet, use the sheet tab’s menu and choose Duplicate. The right method depends on whether you want another copy of the data, the table’s formatting, or the complete sheet with its other contents and setup.

What “duplicate a table” can mean

People use “table” to mean different things in Google Sheets. It might be a rectangular block of cells with headings, a range formatted to look like a table, or a Google Sheets table created with the Table feature. It can also mean the entire worksheet tab. These objects do not all behave the same way when copied, so it helps to decide what you need before starting.

Copy the data range when you want another version of the rows and columns in the same sheet.
Duplicate the sheet when you want a copy of everything on a worksheet, including other ranges, formatting, and sheet-level setup.
Copy to another spreadsheet when the duplicate should live in a different Google Sheets file.

A copied range is not the same as a database-style duplicate record. It creates another set of cells; it does not keep the two copies synchronized. If you change one copy later, the other will not automatically update unless you build a separate formula-based connection.

Copy a table range in the same sheet

For a straightforward duplicate beside or below the original, copy the complete cell range, including the header row. In a browser on Windows or ChromeOS, Ctrl+C copies the selection and Ctrl+V pastes it. On a Mac, use Command+C and Command+V. You can also use Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste from the Google Sheets menu.

Click the first cell in the table and drag to select the full range, including headings and any total row you want to include.
Copy the selection with the keyboard shortcut or Edit > Copy.
Click the top-left destination cell. Leave enough empty space to fit the copied rows and columns.
Paste with the keyboard shortcut or Edit > Paste.
Check the result, especially formulas, dates, dropdowns, and formatting.

For example, if the original table occupies B2:E12, select B2:E12 and paste at G2 to place a second copy beside it. Make sure columns G through J are available. Pasting onto occupied cells replaces their contents, so choose an empty destination or make a separate copy of the file first if those cells matter.

To select a large range without dragging, click the name box at the left of the formula bar, enter a range such as B2:E12, and press Enter. The selected range can then be copied. The name box is useful when a table has many rows or when scrolling makes its edges hard to locate.

Preserve or change the copied content

A normal paste generally brings over cell contents and formatting, but the result can depend on what was copied and where it is pasted. Formulas are copied as formulas, and relative references may adjust to the new position. For instance, a formula referring to the cell immediately to its left can point to the corresponding cell beside the pasted formula. Review formulas rather than assuming they still refer to the original data.

If you want only the displayed results and not the original formulas, use Edit > Paste special > Values only. If you want the appearance but not the cell contents, use Edit > Paste special > Format only. Google Sheets also offers other paste-special choices, such as pasting formulas only. These options are useful when preparing a clean template or when a duplicate should not keep links to the original calculations.

To copy the range’s appearance and contents but avoid carrying over a particular feature, inspect the destination after pasting. For example, a pasted range might include validation rules or conditional formatting that you do not want in the new area. You can change those separately using Data > Data validation or Format > Conditional formatting. Check the current selections before removing rules, since those commands affect the selected cells.

Copying a Google Sheets table made with Insert > Table

Google Sheets has a Table feature available from Insert > Table. A table has a defined range and features such as a header row, table formatting, and column-type settings. It is more than a range that has simply been colored and given bold headings, but it is still made of cells in the sheet.

To make a second copy of its contents, select the table’s cells and copy and paste them as a range. Include the header if the duplicate should have the same column labels. After pasting, inspect the copy to see whether the table-specific behavior and settings you need are present. If the pasted result is just an ordinary range, use Insert > Table on the copied range to make it a table, then confirm the header and column settings.

This distinction matters when you want a working table rather than a visual replica. A range can look identical while lacking the table’s structure or settings. Conversely, formatting alone does not make a range a Table. If your goal is simply to repeat a report layout, a normal copied range may be enough; if you rely on table features, verify them directly in the new copy.

Duplicate an entire worksheet

If you want all the contents of a worksheet, duplicating its tab is usually more reliable than copying a single range. Find the sheet tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet, open its tab menu (by clicking the small arrow or right-clicking the tab), and choose Duplicate. Google Sheets creates a new sheet in the same spreadsheet, typically with a name such as “Copy of…” followed by the original sheet name.

This approach is useful for making a new monthly report from a prior month, creating a fresh version of a form, or preserving the layout of a worksheet that contains several separate tables. Review the duplicate before editing: it may include content outside the table you meant to reuse, as well as formulas, notes, and formatting. Rename the new tab by opening its menu and choosing Rename, then enter a clear name.

Duplicating a sheet does not create a live mirror. Editing a value in the original will not update the duplicate. Also, formulas on the duplicated sheet may refer to other sheets or ranges in the same spreadsheet. Those references can still point to the original source, which may be desirable for a report template but wrong if you intended the new sheet to operate independently. Check formulas that refer to other tabs.

Copy a table or sheet to another spreadsheet

To put a worksheet in a different Google Sheets file, open the sheet tab’s menu and look for Copy to, then choose a destination such as a new spreadsheet or an existing spreadsheet. The exact available destinations depend on your access to the files. This method copies the sheet rather than asking you to manually select its cells.

If you only need a table range in another file, select and copy the cells, open the destination spreadsheet, click the target cell, and paste. This is quick, but it is easier to miss details such as notes, validation rules, or formatting when the range is complex. When the complete worksheet matters, copying the sheet is generally the better starting point. Check the new file’s formulas and sharing settings afterward; moving a copy does not mean it is linked to the original or shared with exactly the same people.

Choose the method that fits your goal

Use the smallest kind of copy that includes everything you need. A compact range copy is easier to manage when only one table is involved. A duplicate sheet is safer when the worksheet is a reusable report or contains several related areas. Copy to another spreadsheet is appropriate when the work needs a separate file.

Need a second editable table on the same tab? Copy and paste its cell range.
Need a blank-looking version with the same layout? Duplicate the sheet, then clear only the values you do not need. Check first so you do not erase formulas or headings.
Need a snapshot of results without formulas? Copy the range and use Edit > Paste special > Values only.
Need the full worksheet in a separate file? Use the sheet tab’s Copy to option and select the destination.
Need two copies to stay in sync? A normal duplicate will not do that; it requires a formula-based approach or another workflow.

For recurring reports, consider keeping one untouched template sheet and duplicating it for each new period. Give each copy a date or period in its tab name, and make clear which cells are intended for data entry. This reduces accidental edits to the original and makes it easier to compare versions later.

Common problems and how to avoid them

The paste overwrote other data. A pasted range fills the destination cells. Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac if the overwrite was accidental, or choose a destination with enough empty rows and columns before pasting.

The formulas changed. Relative references can adjust when formulas move. Inspect a few key formulas in the duplicate, particularly totals and lookups. If you wanted fixed references, the original formulas may need absolute references or a different copy method.

The copy looks right but does not act like a table. A visual style is not proof that the Table feature was retained. Check whether the copied range has the table controls and settings you rely on; if necessary, create a table from the copied range with Insert > Table.

Dropdowns or colors are missing or unexpected. Data validation and conditional formatting are separate from ordinary visible text and fill colors. Inspect the relevant settings on the new range and add or adjust them if needed.

A duplicated report still shows old information. A duplicate copies what was on the sheet at the time it was made. Clear or replace old input values carefully, and check formulas that pull information from other tabs. Making a copy is not the same as refreshing a report from a new data source.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I duplicate a table in Google Sheets without copying the whole sheet?
Select the table’s cell range, including its headings, then copy and paste it into an empty area of the same sheet. If you need table-specific settings, inspect the pasted copy and recreate the table with Insert > Table if needed.

Can I duplicate a Google Sheets table to another tab?
Yes. Copy the table range, open the destination tab, click the top-left cell where the copy should begin, and paste. If you need the entire worksheet rather than just the table, use the sheet tab’s Duplicate option.

Does duplicating a sheet keep formulas?
Yes, formulas are included when you duplicate a sheet. Some references may continue to point to other sheets or ranges, and relative references can behave differently when a range is pasted elsewhere. Check important calculations in the copy.

Will a duplicated table update when I edit the original?
No. Copying cells or duplicating a sheet creates a separate copy, not a live connection. Changes made to one copy do not automatically appear in the other.

How can I copy only the results, not the formulas?
Copy the cells, then choose Edit > Paste special > Values only in the destination. This pastes the displayed values instead of the formulas that produced them.

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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