Excel Fill Down Shortcut: Ctrl+D and the double-click trick

You wrote a formula in the top cell and need it in the 500 below. Three ways, fastest first.

Way 1: double-click the fill handle

1. Click the cell with the formula.
2. Double-click the small square at its bottom-right corner.

It fills down as far as the column next to it has data. Stops at the first blank in the neighbour column.

Way 2: Ctrl + D

1. Click the formula cell, then Shift + click the last cell you want filled (or Ctrl + Shift + Down).
2. Press Ctrl + D.

Works even when the neighbour column has gaps. Ctrl + R does the same to the right.

Way 3: drag

Drag the fill handle down. Fine for ten rows, painful for a thousand.

Fill only the blank cells

A column where the category is typed once and the rows below are blank:

1. Select the column. Press F5 › Special › Blanks › OK.
2. Type =, press the Up arrow, then Ctrl + Enter.

Every blank now copies the value above it.

Fill a series, not a copy

Type 1 in A1, 2 in A2, select both, drag. Excel continues 3, 4, 5. Same for dates and Mon, Tue, Wed.

Check it worked

Click a filled cell near the bottom. Its formula should point at its own row (A500*2, not A1*2).

Common mistake

Double-click filled only 20 rows. The neighbour column has a blank at row 21. Use Ctrl + D instead.