How to Copy Values in Excel
(and Not the Formula)

Talking about shortcuts, Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste is something we all know.

Using both these shortcuts, you can copy and paste any value around your Excel books. However, the problem with this shortcut is that doesn’t allow you to explore the several pasting options of Excel.

There’d often be times when you’d only want to copy a cell and paste it as a value instead of a formula. If you’re going through such a time, this guide is meant for you 🤯

Let me walk you through a variety of procedures to copy and paste only values in Microsoft Excel without the formula running behind them.

Download your free practice workbook for this tutorial here to practice along with me, and let’s go.

Table of Contents

Paste only values

In Excel, when we use a formula to compute a value, here’s how it looks.

In certain situations, you might want to copy this cell and paste it to another location. However, you might only want the value copied and pasted (and not the formula behind it) 🧾

Simple. Here’s how you do it.

Step 1) Select the cell / range of cells containing the formula.

Step 2) Right-click on it, from the menu bar that launches, select Copy.

Step 3) Once it is copied, go to the destination cell (where you want the value copied).

Step 4) Right-click on it to launch the menu of options for it.

Do you see the paste options there?

Step 5) Click on the Paste Value button. It is denoted by a clipboard icon with 123 numbers on it.

Excel will paste the copied cell as a value only and remove the formula from the background.

That’s how you fetch values from a cell leaving behind the formulas 🤩

Use the Paste Special Feature

In addition to the simple pasting option, you can also use the Paste Special feature of Excel to copy and paste only values and not formulas.

Step 1) Select the cell containing the formula and copy it.

Step 2) Go to the destined cell (where you want the value copied).

Step 3) Right-click on it to launch the menu of options for it.

Step 4) Click on the Paste Special button.

This will launch the Paste Special Dialog box as follows.

Step 5) Select the option “Values” from it.

Step 6) Press the Okay button.

Only the value is pasted with no formulas.

Simple enough? 🧐

Keyboard Shortcuts

If you’re a keyboard person who can blindly type tens of words in seconds and reach out for the cursor is something you’re too lazy for – it’s alright, we still have you covered ⌨

You can use the Paste Special feature to copy and paste only values (and not formulas) in MS Excel using keyboard shortcuts too.

Step 1) Copy the cell containing the designated formula using the shortcut Control key + C.

Step 2) Select the targeted cell (where you want the value pasted).

Step 3) Press the following keys in a sequential order (one after another).

Alt key > E > S > V

Pressing the Alt key > E > S will launch the Paste Special Dialog box before you 💻

And then pressing the V key will select the option to Paste Values only.

Step 4) Hit Enter to have the settings applied.

Only the value resulting from the SUM function is pasted – with no formulas running in the background.

Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut of Control key + Alt key + V to use the Paste Special feature and paste the cell value only.

This is where it takes you.

However, these keys are to be pressed simultaneously (all at once) and not sequentially. 🎯

Conclusion

Copy/pasting in Excel is so much more than simply copying a cell value and pasting is at is. There are many more avenues to it, and to explore them all, I suggest you read my following Excel Tips and Tutorials:

• Copy Only Visible Cells in Excel: Step-by-Step (2024)
• How to Use the Format Painter in Excel: Copy Formatting (2024)