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: December 3, 2024 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.

Steps

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1. 
   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.
2. 
   2
   Open a Google Sheet document from your list.

   • You can also click
     
     to create a new spreadsheet.
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3. 
   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.
4. 
   4
   Click the cell to select it.
5. 
   5
   Drag the cell's handle to the bottom of your data in the column. 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.
6. 
   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).
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  Bell91

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• Question

  How do you subtract the sum of 3 columns from another column to get the new column showing the profit margin?

  

  Community Answer

  You need to use parentheses. For example: =D1-(A1+B1+C1), where A, B, C, and D are columns.

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• Question

  It is working only with the first cell, what can I do?

  

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  You need to copy and paste the formula into all of the cells that you want it to work for.

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  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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