3 Effective Methods to Apply a Formula to an Entire Column in Excel

For those of us who use Excel on a regular basis, a common question arises: how can you apply an Excel formula to an entire column? In this guide, we’ll explore the most effective methods to achieve this, so let’s dive in.

How to Apply a Formula to an Entire Column in Excel

1. Double-click the Autofill Handle

1. Select the cell containing your formula.
2. Find the small green square in the bottom right corner of the selected cell.
3. Double-click the green square to fill the formula down the column.

2. Use the Fill Down Feature

1. In the column where your formula is located, highlight the formula and all other cells below that you wish to populate.
2. Next, go to the Home tab.
3. Then, click on Fill and select Fill Down.

You can also easily achieve this via keyboard shortcuts:

1. Select the cell that contains your formula.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow to highlight the entire column. Alternatively, use Ctrl + Shift + End to select all relevant cells in the column that contain data for the formula.
3. Finally, use Ctrl + D to fill the formula down the selected range.

3. Convert Your Range to an Excel Table

1. Select all the cells that you want to format as a table.
2. Navigating to the Home tab, choose Format as Table.
3. Select your preferred table style.
4. Access Excel options.
5. Go to the Proofing section and click on Auto Correct Options.
6. In the AutoFormat as You Type section, check Include new rows and columns in the table and Fill formulas in tables to create calculated columns.

After completing these steps, your columns will be automatically populated with the formula.

As demonstrated, applying a formula to an entire column in Excel is straightforward. In many instances, you can simply double-click the autofill handle or utilize keyboard shortcuts for quick filling.

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