Copy and paste specific cell contents

You can copy and paste specific cell contents or attributes (such as formulas, formats, comments, and validation). By default, if you use the Copy and Paste icons (or + C and + V), all attributes are copied. To pick a specific paste option, you can either use a Paste menu option or select Paste Special, and pick an option from the Paste Special box. Attributes other than what you select are excluded when you paste.

Newer versionsOffice 2011

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Paste menu options

1. Select the cells that contain the data or other attributes that you want to copy.

2. On the Home tab, click Copy  .

3. Click the first cell in the area where you want to paste what you copied.

4. On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Paste, and then do any of the following. The options on the Paste menu will depend on the type of data in the selected cells:

   

Select	To paste
Paste	All cell contents and formatting, including linked data.
Formulas	Only the formulas.
Formulas & Number Formatting	Only formulas and number formatting options.
Keep Source Formatting	All cell contents and formatting.
No Borders	All cell contents and formatting except cell borders.
Keep Source Column Widths	Only column widths.
Transpose	Reorients the content of copied cells when pasting. Data in rows is pasted into columns and vice versa.
Paste Values	Only the values as displayed in the cells.
Values & Number Formatting	Only the values and number formatting.
Values & Source Formatting	Only the values and number color and font size formatting.
Formatting	All cell formatting, including number and source formatting.
Paste Link	Link the pasted data to the original data. When you paste a link to the data that you copied, Excel enters an absolute reference to the copied cell or range of cells in the new location.
Paste as Picture	A copy of the image.
Linked Picture	A copy of the image with a link to the original cells (if you make any changes to the original cells those changes are reflected in the pasted image).
Column widths	Paste the width of one column or range of columns to another column or range of columns.
Merge conditional formatting	Combine conditional formatting from the copied cells with conditional formatting present in the paste area.

Paste Special options

1. Select the cells that contain the data or other attributes that you want to copy.

2. On the Home tab, click Copy  .

3. Click the first cell in the area where you want to paste what you copied.

4. On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Paste, and then select Paste Special.

   

5. Select the options you want.

   

Paste options

Select	To paste
All	All cell contents and formatting, including linked data.
Formulas	Only the formulas.
Values	Only the values as displayed in the cells.
Formats	Cell contents and formatting.
Comments	Only comments attached to the cell.
Validation	Only data validation rules.
All using Source theme	All cell contents and formatting using the theme that was applied to the source data.
All except borders	Cell contents and formatting except cell borders.
Column widths	The width of one column or range of columns to another column or range of columns.
Formulas and number formats	Only formulas and number formatting.
Values and number formats	Only values and number formatting options from the selected cells.
All, merge conditional formats	Combine conditional formatting from the copied cells with conditional formatting present in the paste area.

Operation options

The Operation options mathematically combine values between the copy and paste areas.

Click	To
None	Paste the contents of the copy area without a mathematical operation.
Add	Add the values in the copy area to the values in the paste area.
Subtract	Subtract the values in the copy area from the values in the paste area.
Multiply	Multiply the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area.
Divide	Divide the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area.

Other options

Click	To
Skip Blanks	Avoid replacing values or attributes in your paste area when blank cells occur in the copy area.
Transpose	Reorients the content of copied cells when pasting. Data in rows is pasted into columns and vice versa.
Paste Link	If data is a picture, links to the source picture. If the source picture is changed, this one will change too.

Tip: Some options are available both on the Paste menu and in the Paste Special dialog box. The option names might vary a bit but the results are the same.

1. Select the cells that contain the data or other attributes that you want to copy.

2. On the Standard toolbar, click Copy  .

3. Click the first cell in the area where you want to paste what you copied.

4. On the Home tab, under Edit, click Paste, and then click Paste Special.

   

5. On the Paste Special dialog, under Paste, do any of the following:

   Click	To
   All	Paste all cell contents and formatting, including linked data.
   Formulas	Paste only the formulas as entered in the formula bar.
   Values	Paste only the values as displayed in the cells.
   Formats	Paste only cell formatting.
   Comments	Paste only comments attached to the cell.
   Validation	Paste data validation rules for the copied cells to the paste area.
   All using Source theme	Paste all cell contents and formatting using the theme that was applied to the source data.
   All except borders	Paste all cell contents and formatting except cell borders.
   Column widths	Paste the width of one column or range of columns to another column or range of columns.
   Formulas and number formats	Paste only formulas and number formatting options from the selected cells.
   Values and number formats	Paste only values and number formatting options from the selected cells.
   Merge conditional formatting	Combine conditional formatting from the copied cells with conditional formatting present in the paste area.

   To mathematically combine values between the copy and paste areas, in the Paste Special dialog box, under Operation, click the mathematical operation that you want to apply to the data that you copied.

   Click	To
   None	Paste the contents of the copy area without a mathematical operation.
   Add	Add the values in the copy area to the values in the paste area.
   Subtract	Subtract the values in the copy area from the values in the paste area.
   Multiply	Multiply the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area.
   Divide	Divide the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area.

   Additional options determine how blank cells are handled when pasted, whether copied data is pasted as rows or columns, and linking the pasted data to the copied data.

   Click	To
   Skip blanks	Avoid replacing values in your paste area when blank cells occur in the copy area.
   Transpose	Change columns of copied data to rows, or vice versa.
   Paste Link	Link the pasted data to the original data. When you paste a link to the data that you copied, Excel enters an absolute reference to the copied cell or range of cells in the new location. Note: This option is available only when you select All or All except borders under Paste in the Paste Special dialog box

Tip: In Excel for Mac version 16.33 or higher, the "paste formatting", "paste formulas", and "paste values" actions can be added to your quick-access toolbar (QAT) or assigned to custom key combinations. For the keyboard shortcuts, you'll need to assign a key combination that isn't already being used to open the Paste Special dialog.

See Also

Move or copy a sheet

Move or copy cells, rows, or columns

Customize the Ribbon and toolbars in Office for Mac

Create a custom keyboard shortcut for Office for Mac