Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 6, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
There are times that you need to adjust the values stored in the cells of a worksheet. Most times, the tools provided by Paste Special will fit the bill just fine. For instance, you can use Paste Special to multiply or divide the values in a range of cells, as described in other issues of ExcelTips.
There is a drawback to using Paste Special, however—it changes the actual value, which you might not want to happen. Why? Because four months after making the adjustment to the values, you might not remember exactly what you did, or what the starting values were.
For this reason, you may find it more desirable to replace values with formulas that indicate what was done with your adjustment. For instance, you may have the value of 100 in cell B3, and you want to increase it by 10%. Using Paste Special you can easily change it to 110, but you may instead want to replace the value with the formula =100*1.1. With such a formula, there would be no question four months from now about the starting value or what you did to it.
The only way to adjust values with formulas is to use a macro, such as the following one:
Sub Adjust() Dim c As Range Dim sMod As String sMod = InputBox("Formula to add?") If sMod > "" Then For Each c In Selection If c.HasFormula Then c.Formula = "=(" & Mid(c.Formula, 2) & ")" & sMod Else c.Formula = "=" & c.Value & sMod End If Next c End If End Sub
To use this macro, select the cells you want to adjust, and then run it. You are asked for a formula to add to the cells. As an example, if you wanted to multiply the cells by 1.1, you would enter *1.1 (the asterisk multiplication symbol, followed by 1.1). The macro then steps through each selected cell and makes the adjustments. If the cell contains a formula, then the formula is adjusted as you specified. If the cell contains anything else, then it is turned into a formula that includes your adjustment.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9486) applies to Microsoft Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Adjusting Values with Formulas.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
Want your macros to be available regardless of the workbook on which you are working? Here's how to store them in the ...
Discover MoreWant to run a macro when you first select a worksheet? You can do so by using one of the event handlers built into Excel, ...
Discover MoreThere are multiple ways that Excel can create a workbook, and the formatting in each creation method can be different. In ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-07-13 13:04:33
Willy Vanhaelen
@Leslie Glasser
Interesting alternative for the macro with 2 advantages:
- strings are ignored (the macro generates an error)
- you can undo the operation (you cannot with a macro).
I even discovered that if you enter e.g. =1.1 in a cell intead of 1.1 then you don't have to enter your values with an equal sign. As in your example 99 becomes =(99)*(1.1).
2019-07-12 04:14:20
Leslie Glasser
A simple way to achieve the same end (for example, showing "*1.1" with values) is to ensure that the original data are entered with an equals sign, as in a formula, e.g., =99. Put 1.1 in a separate cell, copy it, then select the cells to be adjusted, Paste Special, and choose Multiply. The cell =99 becomes =(99)*1.1 and displays 108.9!
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments