How to Copy and Paste in Excel and Keep Cell Size (7 Examples)

Step 1 – Using the Context Menu

The dataset below contains information on employees’ Names, Duration of work, and wage Amounts for Project 1 (B4:D7). The same employees will work for Project 2 (B9:D12). We will copy the data from Project 1 to Project 2.

STEPS:

• Select rows 6 & 7.
• Right-click, and a context menu pops up. Select Copy.

• Select row 11.
• Right-click. From the context menu, select Paste from the Paste Options.

• Press Esc.
• We will see the copy-paste data with the same cell size in both rows.

Method 2 – Using Copy and Paste Features

STEPS:

• Select rows 6 & 7.
• Press Ctrl + C. This will copy both rows. We can see the green border around them.

• Select row 11.

• Press Ctrl + V. This will paste the copied data.
• Press Esc to see the result.

Method 3 – Using Multiple Spreadsheets

We will copy this spreadsheet information into another spreadsheet named ‘Sheet1’.

STEPS:

• Select the top left corner icon of the spreadsheet to select the entire spreadsheet.
• Press Ctrl + C to copy the data.

• Go to ‘Sheet1’.
• Select the top left icon of that sheet.
• Press Ctrl + V to paste the data.
• There is the result and it keeps the cell size.

Method 4 – Applying Format Painter

STEPS:

• Select the cell range B6:D7 to copy.
• Press Ctrl + C together to copy the cells.

• Select Cell B11.
• Press Ctrl + V to paste the above cells’ information.

• Select rows 6 & 7.
• Go to the Home tab and select the Format Painter option from the Clipboard section.

• Here, we will see that the mouse cursor is converted into the Format Painter icon.
• Select row 11.

• The size of rows 11 & 12 is the same as rows 6 & 7.

Read More: Copy and Paste Without Changing the Format in Excel

Method 5 – Using the Excel ‘Paste Special’ Feature

In the dataset below, the width of the cells for Project 1 and Project 2 are not the same size.

STEPS:

• Select the cell range B4:B8.
• Right-click on the mouse and select Copy.

• Select Cell D4.
• Right-click. A context menu pops up.
• Select the ‘Paste Special’ option from Paste Options.

• This will open a Paste Special window.
• Select the Column widths option from the Paste section.
• Press OK.

• The width sizes are changed like its source.

Method 6 – Using the Home Tab

STEPS:

• Select rows 6 & 7.
• Go to the Home tab.
• Select the Copy drop-down from the Clipboard section.
• Select the Copy option.

• Select rows 11 & 12.
• Go to the Home tab.
• Select the Paste option from the Clipboard group.

• The pasted result is the same cell size. Remember to press the Esc key from the keyboard.

Method 7 – Using the Keyboard Shortcut

a)

• Press Alt + H + C + C keys one by one to copy the required cell.

b)

• Press Alt + H + V + P keys simultaneously to paste that cell value and keep the cell size.

Read More: Copy and Paste Formulas Without Changing Cell References

Practice Workbook

Download the following workbook to practice.

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