How to Apply a Formula to an Entire Column on Google Sheets on PC or Mac

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Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: February 9, 2023 Tested

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This wikiHow teaches you how to apply a formula to an entire column using the full desktop website of Google Sheets.

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1
Go to https://sheets.google.com in a web browser. If you are logged into your Google account, this will show you a list of all the documents associated with your account.
- Log in to your Google account if you aren't logged in automatically.
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2
Open a Google Sheet document from your list.
- You can also click
  
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  to create a new spreadsheet.
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3
Enter the formula in the first cell of the column.
- If you have a header row with titles, don't put the formula in the header.
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Click the small blue square at the bottom-right of the cell and drag it down across all the cells you want to apply the formula to. When you release the click, the formula from the first cell will be copied into every cell in your selection.
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6
Use the keyboard shortcuts. If the column is too long to drag or if you want to apply the formula to the entire column of the spreadsheet:
- Click the cell with the formula.
- Click the column letter at the top.
- Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ Command + D (Mac).

Community Q&A

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Question

How to do this? For entire column D, I want it to do same formula, but per line. A1+B1+C1=D1, A2+B2+C2=D2, A3+B3+C3=D3, etc How do I add this formula to column D?

Community Answer

In column D1, type "=A1+B1+C1", then hit enter. Next, click the bottom right corner of the D1 cell (known as the fill handle) , and drag it down the D column. Google sheets will add the correct formula to each cell that you drag the fill handle over.

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Question

Is Command+D is the Add Bookmark feature in Chrome?

Community Answer

Yes. Command+D on Mac and Ctrl+D on Windows is the shortcut to add a bookmark.

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Question

How do I get a column in Google Sheet to automatically re-calculate?

Community Answer

Google Sheets should already recalculate if you are using formulas. If you update cells contained in the formula, the column should recalculate.

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How to Apply a Formula to an Entire Column on Google Sheets on PC or Mac

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