How to Copy a Formula Down a Column in Excel

To copy a formula down a column in Excel, enter it in the first cell, then use the fill handle, a keyboard shortcut, or an Excel table to extend it.

The method you choose affects how far the formula fills and how its cell references change.

Enter a formula and check its references

Suppose column A contains item prices and column B contains quantities.

To calculate each row’s total, enter =A2*B2 in cell C2.

When copied down, Excel adjusts the relative references: C3 becomes =A3*B3, and C4 becomes =A4*B4.

Before filling, confirm that the formula uses the right reference types:

Relative reference: A2 changes when the formula moves to another row or column.
Absolute reference: $A$2 stays fixed when copied.
Mixed reference: $A2 locks the column, while A$2 locks the row.

For example, if cell E1 contains a tax rate and you want to multiply each amount in A2:A5 by that fixed rate, enter =A2*$E$1 in B2.

Copying down changes A2 to A3, A4, and so on, while $E$1 remains unchanged.

In most desktop versions of Excel, press F4 while editing a selected cell reference to cycle through its relative, absolute, and mixed forms.

Use the fill handle to copy a formula down

The fill handle is the small square at the lower-right corner of a selected cell.

It is a quick way to fill a neighboring range:

Enter the formula in the first cell, such as C2.
Select C2 and move the pointer to its lower-right corner.
When the pointer becomes a small black plus sign, drag the handle down through the destination cells, such as C2:C100.
Release the mouse button.

Excel copies the formula and adjusts relative references for each row.

If the column beside the formula contains a continuous list of data, you can often double-click the fill handle to fill down to the end of that adjacent data.

Excel uses nearby data to estimate the fill range, so check the last row afterward.

A blank cell in the neighboring column or an uneven data block can cause the fill to stop earlier than expected.

If you do not see the fill handle, check whether it is enabled in Excel’s editing options.

The setting is generally called Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop; its location can vary slightly across Excel versions and platforms.

Fill a selected range with a keyboard shortcut

For a long or precisely defined range, select the destination cells before filling:

Enter the formula in C2.
Select C2 through C100.

You can select the range with the mouse or enter C2:C100 in the Name Box beside the formula bar.
Press Ctrl+D on Windows to use Fill Down.

Excel uses the top cell of the selected range as the source and fills the formula into the cells below it.

On Mac, Command+D is the usual shortcut for Fill Down.

Shortcut behavior may depend on your keyboard, operating system, and Excel version; use Home > Fill > Down if the shortcut is unavailable.

To fill only the cells directly beneath the formula, select them along with the source cell.

For example, enter the formula in C2, select C2:C5, and use Fill Down.

The results in C2:C5 will refer to rows 2 through 5, respectively.

Copy a formula down in an Excel table

When your data is formatted as an Excel table, formulas in a calculated column usually fill automatically.

Select your data, including its headers, and choose Insert > Table (or press Ctrl+T on Windows).

Confirm whether the selected range has headers.

In the first data row of the new column, enter a formula such as =[@Price]*[@Quantity].

Excel should apply the formula to the other rows in that table column and extend it to new rows added to the table.

This structured-reference formula identifies each row’s Price and Quantity values by their column names.

If Excel does not fill the calculated column, check its AutoCorrect settings for the option that extends formulas in tables.

You can also copy the formula down with the fill handle or Fill Down.

Table formula behavior is available in current desktop versions of Excel, though menu labels and settings may differ by platform.

What results should you expect?

Suppose A2:A4 contains 10, 15, and 8; B2:B4 contains 2, 3, and 4; and C2 contains =A2*B2.

After filling C2:C4, the formulas and displayed results should be:

C2: =A2*B2 → 20
C3: =A3*B3 → 45
C4: =A4*B4 → 32

If your formulas appear as text instead of calculated values, check that the destination cells are not formatted as Text.

Change the cells to General, then edit and re-enter the formula.

Also check that Show Formulas is not enabled; this view displays formulas in cells instead of their calculated results.

Why might the copied formula give the wrong result?

A formula can fill successfully and still produce unexpected results.

These checks help identify common causes:

A reference shifted when it should stay fixed: Change the relevant reference to an absolute form, such as $E$1.
A reference did not shift: If every row points to the same input cell, remove the dollar signs where a relative reference is intended.
The fill stopped too soon: Drag through the full destination range or select the exact range and use Fill Down.
Some rows contain different formulas: Review the formula bar in a few filled cells, especially where source data has blanks or interruptions.
The result is an error: Check the row’s inputs and the formula’s logic.

Copying a formula does not prevent errors such as division by zero or references to missing data.

To inspect a particular row, select its formula cell and read the formula bar.

For example, if C4 should calculate the fourth row, verify that it contains =A4*B4 rather than a formula pointing to row 2.

When should you use each method?

Use the fill handle for a short range or when you want Excel to detect the end of adjacent data.
Use Ctrl+D or Home > Fill > Down when you know the exact range to fill.
Use an Excel table for ongoing lists where formulas should extend as rows are added.