Work Faster in Excel with Autofill

Laurie Baker is a lead Microsoft 365 instructor at ONLC Training Centers who has spent years helping professionals at every skill level get more confident and productive in Excel. In this piece, she walks through one of Excel's most underrated time-savers — and shows you exactly how to start using it today.

Want a simple way to save time in Excel? The Autofill feature is one of Excel's simplest tools for handling large datasets with ease. It helps you copy data, continue sequences, and extend formulas in just a few clicks — no repetitive typing required. Whether you're working with text, numbers, dates, or formulas, Excel can automatically extend patterns and calculations in seconds.

Use Autofill to Copy Formulas Instantly

For example, if you need to calculate sales tax on customer purchases, you can enter your starting formula in the first cell of a column and then just drag down a fill handle. Excel automatically updates each row, so you don't have to re-enter the formula.

Let Excel Fill in Dates and Sequences for You

If you're building a monthly schedule or tracking dates, you don't need to type every date manually. Enter the first couple of dates, drag the fill handle, and Excel will instantly continue the sequence. What might normally take several minutes becomes incredibly easy.

How to Use Autofill

1. Enter a value or formula into a cell.
2. Select the cell and hover over the bottom-right corner until you see a small black "+" sign (the fill handle).
3. Click and drag the fill handle across or down the cells you want to fill. Excel will copy the data and extend recognized patterns.

For an even faster option, you can double-click the fill handle to instantly fill a column. Excel will fill down based on the length of the adjacent data. For instance, if Column A contains data and Column B contains a formula, double-clicking the fill handle in Column B will automatically copy the formula down to match the length of Column A — perfect for large datasets.

Note: When working with formulas, you can use absolute references like $A$1 to keep specific cell references from changing as you copy them.

See It in Action

ONLC instructor Patty Ciszek walks through Autofill in this quick demo:

Keyboard Shortcuts for Filling Data

Excel also includes helpful shortcuts that make filling data even more efficient. Use Ctrl + D to fill down or Ctrl + R to fill right. In both cases, select the range you want to fill (including the source cell), press the shortcut key combination, and Excel will copy the data accordingly.

Ready to Learn More?

Join one of our hands-on Excel classes and learn practical, real-world skills you can start using right away. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, we'll help you work faster and more confidently.

ONLC Training Centers offers a full range of Excel training — from Excel Introduction to Excel Tips, Tricks & Timesavers to Excel Workbooks, Formulas & Functions. All courses are available live online or at hundreds of training centers nationwide. Browse the full Excel schedule.