Replace a formula with its result

You can replace a formula with its calculated value so that the formula no longer recalculates. Replacing a formula with its result can be helpful if the workbook contains many formulas or complex formulas. Using the static data of the result can improve performance. If you want to replace only part of a formula, you can replace only the part that you don't want to recalculate. You can convert formulas to their values on a cell-by-cell basis or convert a whole range immediately.

Do any of the following:

Replace a formula with its calculated value

Caution: When you replace a formula with its value, Excel permanently removes the formula. If you accidentally replace a formula with a value and want to restore the formula, on the Standard toolbar, click Undo  immediately after you enter or paste the value. It's a good idea to make a copy of the workbook before replacing a formula with its results.

1. Select the cell that contains the formula.

   If the formula is an array formula, select the range that contains the array formula.

2. On the Standard toolbar, click Copy  .

3. On the Standard toolbar, click Paste  .

4. Click the arrow next to Paste Options  , and then click Values Only.

Replace part of a formula with its calculated value

Caution: When you replace part of a formula with its value, it cannot be restored.

1. Select the cell that contains the formula.

2. In the formula bar, select the part of the formula that you want to replace with its calculated value.

   Note: When you select the part of the formula that you want to replace, make sure that you include the whole operand. For example, if you select a function, you must select the whole function name, the opening parenthesis, the argument, and the closing parenthesis.

3. Press + = .

   Excel calculates the selected part of the formula.

4. Press RETURN .

   If the formula is an array formula, press + RETURN .

   Excel replaces the selected part of the formula with its calculated value.

See also

Change formula recalculation, iteration, or precision

Copy formula results or formatting

Switch between relative and absolute references