Create a Series of Numbers or Dates with Drag-Fill

You can quickly fill a range of cells with a series of numbers, dates, or a text string ending in numbers, that’s either sequential or an evenly spaced interval using the drag-fill method.

Drag-fill Basics

Drag-fill will copy a value or formula from one cell into other adjacent cells. When you use drag-fill with a formula, the cell references will adjust automatically to reflect the new placement.

A formula will automatically be filled in to a cell if it's directly above, below, or between two cells that contain the same formula. Learn more about this functionality in Auto-filling Formulas and Formatting article.

Use Drag-fill

1. Click on a cell containing a value or formula that you want to copy into adjacent cells.

2. Hover the mouse over the lower-right corner of the cell—the insertion point should change to a cross hair.
   

3. Click-and-drag the lower-right corner towards any other adjacent cells.
   
   You’ll see a dotted border around each cell that will be affected when you release the click.
   
   

4. Release the click to fill all of the bordered cells with the value, or formula, from the initial cell.
     
    

To use drag-fill on non-consecutive cells, first apply a filter to the sheet. For more information about using filters, see Using Filters to Show or Hide Sheet Data.
Another quick way to fill content down a column is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + D (Windows) or Command + D (Mac).

Use Drag-Fill with Dates

You can use drag-fill with date columns. For example, to create a series of dates, each one week apart, here's what you would do:

1. Type your first two dates into adjacent cells to establish a pattern.
   
2. Select both cells...
   
3. Click-and-drag downward from the fill handle at the bottom-right corner of your selected cells.
   
   As you drag downward, the included cells are outlined in a dotted line.
   
    
4. Release to create the series.