Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. 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: Enhanced Filling.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 14, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Excel allows you to quickly and easily fill a series of cells with a progression of values by simply using the fill handle. This is the small black dot that appears at the lower-right corner of a cell when it is selected. Just click on the fill handle and drag to select the cells you want filled. Using this feature allows Excel to make decisions about how the cells you select should be filled.
You can gain more control over the filling process if, instead of clicking on the fill handle, you right-click on it and then drag. When you release the mouse button a Context menu appears that allows you to select the type of fill you want to perform.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12124) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Enhanced Filling.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
If you lose your place on the screen quite often, you might find it helpful to have not just a single cell highlighted, ...
Discover MoreDo you need to paste formulas without updating the references in whatever you are pasting? You can accomplish this, ...
Discover MoreThe AutoFill tool is very handy when it comes to quickly filling cells with a sequence of values. Sometimes, however, it ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-01-15 23:16:47
Tomek
Hi Kiwerry:
Yes, it only works downward, but may be used on more than a single column.
I still think double-click is handy for very tall columns, better than dragging.
BTW How would Excel know that you want to fill horizontally?
For horizontal filling you have to drag. ;-)
2023-01-15 06:34:09
Kiwerry
Thanks, Allen and Tomek.
The copying on double-click mentioned by Tomek takes place downwards. I haven't seen any way of changing this behaviour.
2023-01-14 19:39:59
Tomek
Another use of the fill handle is to double-click on it. If the column to the left or right contains some values, the content of the selected cell or range will be quickly copied to match the size (number of rows) of the column beside it. The copying will stop on any non-empty cell though, and will not extend over blank cells in the neighbouring column.
If the cell selected contains formula or a value (numeric, text, etc,), it will be copied down the column.
If it contains a date, it will fill consecutive dates.
If more than a single cell is selected, Excel will try to find a pattern and copy that pattern. If it thinks it is a series, it will extend the series. This often may be different from expectation (but you can always undo).
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.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. 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:
Comments