Copy Formulas in Google Sheets: A step by step guide

In this article, we will understand how to copy formulas in Google Sheets using two different methods. If you have hundreds of rows and need to copy the same formula to all of them, there are easier methods than simple copy-paste, such as Array Formulas.

Method 1: Copy Formulas Using the Menu

Step 1: Open your Google Sheets and select the cell with the formula you want to copy. Click on the Edit menu at the top and select the Copy option.

Step 2: Select the cell where you want to paste the formula. Open the Edit menu again and click the Paste option. The formula will appear in the selected cell.

Step 3: If the original cell has specific formatting, it will be copied to the new cell along with the formula. If you want to exclude the formatting, use the Paste special submenu under the Edit menu and select Formulas Only.

Step 4: Open the Edit menu and click on Paste Special. Choose Formulas Only from the list. Using this method ensures the destination cell's formatting doesn't change.

Method 2: Copy Formulas Using the Drag Handle

Step 1: Select the cell with the formula you want to copy. A small blue square will appear in the lower right corner of the cell.

Step 2: Click and hold the drag handle with your mouse. Drag it over the cells where you want to copy the formula. You can drag it horizontally across a row or vertically down a column.

Step 3: Release the mouse, and the formula will be copied to all the selected cells. Repeat this for other cells if needed to ensure the formula is copied to all necessary cells.