Enter a series of numbers, dates, or other items

Do any of the following:

Quickly enter repeated column items into a cell

1. In the column, type the first few characters for the entry.

   If the characters that you type match an existing entry in that column, Excel presents a menu with a list of entries already used in the column.

2. Press the DOWN ARROW key to select the matching entry, and then press RETURN .

   Notes: 

   • Excel automatically completes only those entries that contain text or a combination of text and numbers. Entries that contain only numbers, dates, or times are not completed.

   • Entries that are repeated within a row are not included in the list of matching entries.

   • If you don't want the entries that you type to be matched automatically to other entries, you can turn this option off. On the Excel menu, click Preferences. Under Formulas and Lists, click AutoComplete  , and then clear the Enable AutoComplete for cell values check box.

Quickly enter repeated column items into many cells at once

1. Select the cells that contain the data that you want to repeat in adjacent cells.

2. Drag the fill handle   over the cells that you want to fill.

   Note: When you select a range of cells that you want to repeat in adjacent cells, you can drag the fill handle down a single column or across a single row, but not down multiple columns and across multiple rows.

3. Click the Auto Fill Options smart button  , and then do one of the following:

To	Do this
Copy the entire contents of the cell, including the formatting	Click Copy Cells.
Copy only the cell formatting	Click Fill Formatting Only.
Copy the contents of the cell, but not the formatting	Click Fill Without Formatting.

Notes: 

• To quickly enter the same information into many cells at once, select all of the cells, type the information that you want, and then press CONTROL + RETURN . This method works across any selection of cells.

• If you don't want the Auto Fill Options smart button  to display when you drag the fill handle, you can turn it off. On the Excel menu, click Preferences. Under Authoring, click Edit  , and then clear the Show Insert Options smart buttons check box.

Quickly enter a series of numbers or text-and-number combinations

Excel can continue a series of numbers, text-and-number combinations, or formulas based on a pattern that you establish. For example, you can enter Item1 in a cell, and then fill the cells below or to the right with Item2, Item3, Item4, etc.

1. Select the cell that contains the starting number or text-and-number combination.

2. Drag the fill handle   over the cells that you want to fill.

   Note: When you select a range of cells that you want to repeat in adjacent cells, you can drag the fill handle down a single column or across a single row, but not down multiple columns and across multiple rows.

3. Click the Auto Fill Options smart button  , and then do one of the following:

To	Do this
Copy the entire contents of the cell, including the formulas and the formatting	Click Copy Cells.
Copy only the cell formatting	Click Fill Formatting Only.
Copy the contents of the cell, including the formulas but not the formatting	Click Fill Without Formatting.

Note: You can change the fill pattern by selecting two or more starting cells before you drag the fill handle. For example, if you want to fill the cells with a series of numbers, such as 2, 4, 6, 8..., type 2 and 4 in the two starting cells, and then drag the fill handle.

Quickly enter a series of dates, times, weekdays, months, or years

You can quickly fill cells with a series of dates, times, weekdays, months, or years. For example, you can enter Monday in a cell, and then fill the cells below or to the right with Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc.

1. Select the cell that contains the starting date, time, weekday, month, or year.

2. Drag the fill handle   over the cells that you want to fill.

   Note: When you select a range of cells that you want to repeat in adjacent cells, you can drag the fill handle down a single column or across a single row, but not down multiple columns and across multiple rows.

3. Click the Auto Fill Options smart button  , and then do one of the following:

To	Do this
Copy the entire contents of the cell, including the formulas and the formatting, without repeating the series	Click Copy Cells.
Fill the cells based on the starting information in the first cell	Click Fill Series.
Copy only the cell formatting	Click Fill Formatting Only.
Copy the contents of the cell, including the formulas but not the formatting	Click Fill Without Formatting.
Use the starting date in the first cell to fill the cells with the subsequent dates	Click Fill Days.
Use the starting weekday name in the first cell to fill the cells with the subsequent weekdays (omitting Saturday and Sunday)	Click Fill Weekdays.
Use the starting month name in the first cell to fill the cells with the subsequent months of the year	Click Fill Months.
Use the starting date in the first cell to fill the cells with the date by subsequent yearly increments	Click Fill Years.

Note: You can change the fill pattern by selecting two or more starting cells before you drag the fill handle. For example, if you want to fill the cells with a series that skips every other day, such as Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc., type Monday and Wednesday in the two starting cells, and then drag the fill handle.

See also

Display dates, times, currency, fractions, or percentages