How to Copy a Spreadsheet in Excel & Google Sheets

This tutorial demonstrates how to copy a spreadsheet in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

 

Copy by Dragging

1. Select the sheet tab of the sheet you wish to copy and then, holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard, drag the tab to the left or right.

 

 

2. Release the mouse to create a copy of the sheet.

 

 

Note: If you don’t hold down the CTRL key, the original sheet is moved to a new position in the workbook and not copied.

Copy With the Quick Menu

In the Active Workbook

1. Right-click on the sheet tab of the sheet you wish to copy to show the quick menu, and then click Move or Copy.

 

 

2. The Move or Copy window has a list of sheet names. Choose (move to the end), then check the box next to Create a copy.

 

 

Note: If you don’t tick Create a copy, the sheet is moved to the end of the workbook.

3. Click OK to create a copy of the worksheet in the active file.

New or Different Workbook

You can also use the quick menu to copy the sheet to a new book or a book that is already open in Excel.

1. Right-click the sheet tab and click Move or Copy Sheet.
2. In the To book drop down, choose (new book) to create a new workbook. (The drop down shows all open workbooks and the ability to create a new book).
3. Check Create a copy, then click OK.

 

 

A copy of the sheet is placed on your screen into a new workbook.

Copy Using the Ribbon

You can also obtain the Move or Copy dialog box by using the Ribbon.

1. In the Ribbon, go to Home > Cells > Format > Move or Copy Sheet…

 

 

2. Set the options you want and click OK.

 

 

Copy a Google Spreadsheet

Duplicate Spreadsheet in Existing File

Click on the little arrow to the right of the sheet tab (or right-click) to obtain the quick menu, and then click Duplicate.

 

 

A copy of the sheet is immediately placed within your Google file.

 

 

Copy to a New or Existing Google File

1. Click on the little arrow to the right of the sheet tab (or right-click) to obtain the quick menu, and then click Copy to.
2. To copy to a new spreadsheet, go to New spreadsheet.
   OR
   To copy to an existing spreadsheet, go to Existing spreadsheet.

 

 

3. Choose the file you wish to copy the sheet to, and then click Select.
   Once the sheet is copied to a new or existing file, the following dialog box appears:

 

 

To open the file where the sheet has been copied to, click OK.