How to quickly apply formula to an entire column or row with/without dragging in Excel?
Sometimes you may need to apply one same formula to an entire column or row in Excel, such as C1=A1*2, C2=A2*2, …, Cn=An*2. It will be quite tedious if you enter the formula in each cell one by one. There are some tricky ways to apply one same formula to an enter column or row quickly.
- Apply formula to an entire column by double-clicking AutoFill handle
- Apply formula to an entire column or row with dragging AutoFill handle
- Apply formula to an entire column or row without dragging by shortcut keyboards
- Apply formula to an entire column or row without dragging by Fill feature
Supposing you need to apply the formula of =(A1*3+8)/5 in the Column C, and see the following tutorials to apply the same formula to entire Column C.
Apply formula to an entire column by double-clicking AutoFill handle
The easiest way to apply a formula to below cells: Double-clicking on the AutoFill handle (the small square in the lower-right corner) of the formula cell.
Note: The auto-fill feature will stop once it reaches a blank cell.
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Apply formula to an entire column or row with dragging AutoFill handle
Dragging the AutoFill handle is the most common way to apply the same formula to an entire column or row in Excel.
Firstly type the formula of =(A1*3+8)/5 in Cell C1, and then drag the AutoFill Handle down to the bottom in Column C, then the formula of =(A1*3+8)/5 is applied in the whole Column C. If you need to apply it to the entire row, you can drag the AutoFill Handle
to the far right.
Note: This dragging AutoFill handle method requires formula calculation automatically. You can enable it with clicking Formulas > Calculation Options > Automatic. See below screenshot:
Apply formula to an entire column or row without dragging by shortcut keyboards
Sometimes, the column you want to apply the formula may covers hundreds of rows, and dragging Fill handle may be not convenient. Actually you and use shortcut keyboards to archive it easily in Excel.
Firstly, select the whole Column C, secondly enter the formula =(A1*3+8)/5, and then press the Ctrl + Enter keys together.
If you want apply the formula to an entire row, you can select the entire row first.
Apply formula to an entire column or row without dragging by Fill feature
Actually there is a Fill command on Excel Ribbon to help you apply formula to an entire column or row quickly.
Firstly enter the formula =(A1*3+8)/5 into the Cell C1 (the first cell of column where you will enter the same formula), secondly select the entire Column C, and then click Home > Fill > Down.
If you want to apply the formula to entire row, just enter the formula into the first cell of your entire row, next select the entire row, and then click Home > Fill > Right.
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