Copy Formula from Cell Above in Excel

The Copy Formula from Cell Above shortcut copies the formula from the cell directly above the active cell. It is extremely useful when working with rows of data or tables that use formulas.

Keyboard Shortcut

Windows Mac
Ctrl + D Cmd + D

What Does This Shortcut Do?

Pressing this shortcut copies the formula from the cell above into the active cell, adjusting any relative references automatically. It does not affect the value of the original cell above.

How to Use the Shortcut

  1. Select the cell where you want to copy the formula
  2. Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac)
  3. The formula from the cell directly above will be copied into the active cell

Tips & Best Practices

FAQ

Q: Will this copy values as well?
No, it copies formulas, not the calculated values directly.
Q: Can I use this in merged cells?
No, this shortcut does not work correctly on merged cells.