Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Quickly Copying Worksheets.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 5, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
If you need to make a copy of a worksheet, you probably use the Format tool on the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Cells group. That tool includes the option to move or copy a worksheet. There is a quicker way to make a copy, however. All you need to do is follow these steps:
That's it! Excel makes an exact copy of the worksheet, depositing it at the point where you released the mouse button.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11145) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Quickly Copying Worksheets.
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2021-04-26 10:24:38
B Becker
I have been struggling with getting the page layout (landscape printing) to stay with the new worksheets I create in several workbooks. No matter how I created the new worksheet, it would always default to portrait. This makes an exact copy, including the page layout. Thrilled! Thank you!
2021-02-02 14:33:50
Kit
As usual with Excel, there are many ways to do things. Another is to copy from the tab.
Right click on the tab,
Choose "Move or Copy",
Choose if the copy should remain in this document or go into another book,
Choose in what order the copy should be placed.
Click the "Create a Copy" box, then OK.
Alan way of using the Ctrl and drag is faster if only creating a duplicate and leaving it in the same book. :)
2021-01-09 19:52:52
John Mann
Great. I could have used this tip just the other day, and many times before
2020-10-04 13:11:19
Sameer Usmani
Great tip! Much time saving.
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.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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