How to Copy a Formula in Excel Without Dragging – 10 Methods

Use the following dataset to calculate the profit of this company.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

 

Method 1- Double-Clicking to Copy Formula in Excel without Dragging

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  •  Enter the following formula in F4
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

  • Double-click the Fill Handle tool.

double-click

You will see the formulas in all cells of the Profit column to calculate profit.

double-click

Read More: How to Copy Formula Down Without Incrementing in Excel


Method 2 – Pressing CTRL+ENTER to Use a Formula Simultaneously for All of the Cells

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Select all of the cells in the Profit column and enter the following formula in F4.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

  •  Press CTRL+ENTER.

CTRL+ENTER

You will see the formulas in all cells in the Profit column.

CTRL+ENTER

Read More: How to Copy Formula and Paste as Text in Excel


Method 3 – Using Shortcut Keys to Copy a Formula in Excel without Dragging

 

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  •  Enter the following formula in F4 and copy it by pressing CTRL+C.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

Shortcut key

  • Press the Left (←) key to go to the left adjacent cell.

Shortcut key

  • Go down to the last cell of this column and press CTRL + Down key (↓).

Shortcut key

  • Press Right (→) and then CTRL + SHIFT + Up (↑) to select all the cells in the Profit column.
  • Paste the formulas by pressing CTRL + V.

Shortcut key

You will see the formula copied to all cells in the Profit column.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Read More: How to Copy Formula to Another Sheet in Excel


Method 4 – Using the Name Box to Copy a Formula without Dragging

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Enter the following formula in F4 and copy it by pressing CTRL+C.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

  • Enter F5:F14 in the Name Box to paste the formula in these cells.

using Name Box

  • Press ENTER.
  • The ranges will be selected.

using Name Box

  • Press CTRL + V to paste the formula in F5:F14.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Read More: How to Copy and Paste Formulas from One Workbook to Another in Excel


Method 5 – Copy a Formula without Dragging Using the Fill Option

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Enter the following formula in F4.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

using Fill option

  •  Select all cells in the Profit column.
  • Go to the Home Tab >> Editing >> Fill >> Down.

using Fill option

This is the output.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Read More: [Fixed] Excel Not Copying Formulas, Only Values


Method 6 – Using the Format as Table Option to Copy Formula in Excel without Dragging

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Go to Home Tab >> Styles >> Format as Table >> select any table style.

Format as Table

In the Create Table dialog box:

  • Select the range.
  • Check My table has headers.
  • Click OK.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

This is the output.

Format as Table

  •  Select F4 and enter the formula.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

By selecting D4 and E4, Excel will convert them automatically into the structured reference system and modify the formula:

=[@[Selling Price]]-[@[Cost Price]]

Format as Table

  • Press ENTER.

This is the output.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging


Method 7 – Using the Table Option to Copy a Formula without Dragging

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Go to Insert Tab >> Table.

Table option

In the Create Table dialog box:

  • Select the range.
  • Check My table has headers.
  • Click OK.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

This is the output.

  • Table optionSelect F4 and use the formula.
=D4-E4

D4 is the Selling Price and E4 is the Cost Price.

By selecting D4 and E4, Excel will convert them automatically to the structured reference system and modify the formula:

=[@[Selling Price]]-[@[Cost Price]]

Table option

  • Press ENTER.

This is the output.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging


Method 8 – Using the Power Query to Copy a Formula without Dragging

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  •  Go to Data Tab >> From Table/Range.

Power Query

In the Create Table dialog box:

  • Select the range.
  • Check My table has headers.
  • Click OK.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

In the Power Query Editor window:

Power Query

Add a column with a formula to calculate the profit of all products.

  • Go to Add Column Tab >> Custom Column.

Power Query

In the Custom Column wizard:

  • Enter the column name (Profit) in New column name.
  • Use the following formula in Custom column formula by inserting the columns from the Available columns list.
=[Selling Price]-[Cost Price]

Power Query

  • Click OK.
  • This is the output.
  • Power Query Go to Home Tab >> Close & Load >> Close & Load To.

Power Query

The Power Query Editor window is closed and the table is loaded to a new sheet: Table4.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging


Method 9 – Using a Dynamic Array to Copy a Formula in Excel without Dragging

 

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Enter the following formula in F4.
=(D4:D14)-(E4:E14)

D4:D14 is the Selling Price and E4:E14 is the Cost Price.

dynamic array

Press ENTER.

This is the output.

dynamic array


Method 10 – Copy a Formula without Dragging Using a VBA Code

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

Steps:

  • Go to Developer Tab >> Visual Basic.

VBA Code

In the Visual Basic Editor:

  • Go to Insert >> Module.

VBA Code

A Module will be created.

how to copy formula in Excel without dragging

  • Enter the following code
Sub formula()

Dim Lr As Long
Dim n As Long
Lr = Cells(Rows.Count, "D").End(xlUp).Row
   For n = 4 To Lr
     Cells(n, "F").Value = Cells(n, "D").Value - Cells(n, "E").Value
   Next n

End Sub

Lr, n is declared as Long, Lr will return the last used row number. FOR loop executes the operation of the formula for all cells in Column F from starting Row 4 to the last row.

VBA Code

  • Press F5.

This is the output.

VBA Code


Practice Section

Practice here.

Practice


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Tanjima Hossain
Tanjima Hossain

TANJIMA HOSSAIN is a marine engineer who enjoys working with Excel and VBA programming. For her, programming is a handy, time-saving tool for managing data, files, and online tasks. She's skilled in Rhino3D, Maxsurf C++, MS Office, AutoCAD, and Excel & VBA, going beyond the basics. She holds a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET and is now a content developer. In this role, she creates tech-focused content centred around Excel and VBA. Apart from... Read Full Bio

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