How to Copy Above Cell in Excel (3 Easy Ways)

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“Copying above cell” in Excel is useful when you need to repeat or follow a specific order with your data, especially when your information is arranged in columns. It’s like taking the content from the cell above and putting it in the current cell you’ve selected. This can be handy for quickly filling in data and organizing your worksheet.

In this Excel tutorial, you can learn 3 ways to copy the above cell content in Excel: keyboard shortcut, Go To Special feature, and VBA.

To explain the methods, we will use a dataset that contains the Department and Joining Month of some employees in the range B4:D10. But some cells are empty. In those cells, we need to copy the above cell. So, we will use the 3 methods to fill the Department and Joining Months for Sophie, Paul, and Alexa.

how to copy above cell in excel

Here are the 3 quick ways to copy the above cell in Excel:


Using Keyboard Shortcut

To copy the above cell content in Excel, press Ctrl + Shift (quote) keys together. For example, if you want to copy the value of Cell C5 in Cell C6, select Cell C6 > press Ctrl + Shift (quote) keys.

You can use this method when you have a small dataset and need to copy a few numbers of cells.

You can also press the right Ctrl + D to copy the above cell but it will also copy the cell formatting.


Using Go To Special Feature

If you have a large dataset and need to copy the above cell for many empty cells, then you can use the Go To Special feature in Excel. 

Follow the steps below to use the Go To Special feature for copying the above cell in Excel:

  1. Select the range where you want to copy the above cells.
    Here, we have selected the range C5:D10.Copy Above Cell with Go To Special Feature
  2. Press Ctrl + G to open the Go To box > select Special.
  3. Select Blanks from the Go To Special box > OK.
    As a result, Excel will select the blank cells.Copy Above Cell with Go To Special Feature
  4. Now, you have to type a formula in the first blank cell of the selected range.
    Here, we have typed =C5 in Cell C6.
  5. Press Ctrl + Enter to get values in all blank cells.
  6. The empty cells will contain formulas. That is why we need to change them to values.
    For that purpose, select the range C5:D10 and press Ctrl + C to copy them.Copy Above Cell with Go To Special Feature
  7. Finally, select Cell C5 and go to the Home tab > Paste option > Paste Values.
    As a result, the formulas will be removed and Excel will store the values only.

Using VBA

In the last method, we will apply VBA to copy cells in Excel. You can copy multiple cells in this case. Let’s follow the steps below to copy the above cells using VBA:

  1. Select the range where you want to copy the above cells.Apply VBA to Copy Above Cell in Excel
  2. Go to the Developer tab > Visual Basic. It will open the Visual Basic window.
  3. In the Visual Basic window, select Insert >> Module.
  4. Now, copy the code below and paste it into the Module window:
    Sub Copy_Cell_Above()
    Dim i As Range
    For Each i In Selection.Cells
        If i.Value = "" Then
            i.FillDown
        End If
    Next i
    End Sub
  5. Press Ctrl + S to save the code.
  6. Now, go to the Developer tab > Macros.
  7. In the Macro window, select the desired code and Run it.

As a result, the code will copy the above cells into the blank cells.

Read More: How to Copy Multiple Cells to Another Sheet in Excel


Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here.


Conclusion

In this article, we have demonstrated 3 easy ways to Copy the Above Cell in Excel. You can use a keyboard shortcut, Go To Special feature, or VBA for that purpose. This article will help you to perform your tasks efficiently. Furthermore, you can download the practice workbook to exercise. If you have any suggestions or queries, feel free to ask in the comment section below.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between copying the value and copying the formula from the cell above?

Copying the value duplicates the static content while copying the formula replicates the dynamic calculation or operation from the cell above.

How can I copy the visible cell above when working with filtered data in Excel?

Select the target cell, press Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow to navigate to the visible cell above, and then use Ctrl + D to copy its content.


Related Articles


<< Go Back to Copy a Cell | Copy Paste in Excel | Learn Excel

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Mursalin Ibne Salehin
Mursalin Ibne Salehin

Mursalin Ibne Salehin holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Over the past 2 years, he has actively contributed to the ExcelDemy project, where he authored over 150 articles. He has also led a team with content development works. Currently, he is working as a Reviewer in the ExcelDemy Project. He likes using and learning about Microsoft Office, especially Excel. He is interested in data analysis with Excel, machine learning,... Read Full Bio

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