How to Copy Multiple Rows in Google Sheets

Copying several rows at once in Google Sheets saves you from retyping data when you’re duplicating records, moving entries to another tab, or building a new sheet from an old one. It works like copying cells, but selecting whole rows keeps every column together, including formatting and formulas. This guide covers copying adjacent rows, non-adjacent rows, pasting values only, inserting copied rows between existing ones, and doing it on your phone.

Quick Answer

Click the first row number, hold Shift, and click the last row number to select the rows. Press Ctrl + C (Command + C on a Mac), click the row number where you want them, and press Ctrl + V.

Copy Adjacent Rows

1. Click the row number of the first row you want (for example, 3).
2. Hold Shift and click the last row number (for example, 5). Or click and drag down the row numbers.
3. Press Ctrl + C, or right-click and choose Copy.
4. Click the row number where the first copied row should go (in the same sheet, another tab or another spreadsheet).
5. Press Ctrl + V.

Pasting overwrites whatever is in the destination rows, so choose empty rows or insert new ones first.

Insert Copied Rows Between Existing Rows

Google Sheets doesn’t have a single “insert copied rows” command, so:

1. Copy the rows.
2. Right-click the row number where they should go and choose Insert X rows above (select the same number of rows first so Sheets offers the right count).
3. Click the first new empty row and press Ctrl + V.

Copy Non-Adjacent Rows

You can select separate rows with Ctrl (Command on Mac), but Google Sheets can’t copy multiple separate selections at once. Workarounds:

• Use a filter: choose Data > Create a filter, filter the column to show only the rows you want, select the visible rows and copy. Only the filtered rows are copied.
• Sort first: sort the data so the rows you need are next to each other, copy, then undo or re-sort.
• Use a formula: on another tab, use =FILTER(Sheet1!A:C, Sheet1!B:B="Rent") to pull matching rows automatically.

Paste Values or Formatting Only

• Values only (no formulas or formatting): press Ctrl + Shift + V, or right-click > Paste special > Values only.
• Formatting only: right-click > Paste special > Format only.
• Transposed (rows become columns): right-click > Paste special > Transposed.

When you paste formulas, relative references shift to the new rows. Use $ signs (like $A$1) to lock references.

Move Rows Instead of Copying

To move rows, select them, then drag the row numbers up or down to a new position, or right-click and choose Cut, then paste in the new location. You can also right-click and use Move rows up/down in recent versions.

Copy Rows in the Google Sheets App

1. Tap a row number to select it, then drag the blue handle to include more rows.
2. Tap the selection again and choose Copy.
3. Tap the destination row number, tap again, and choose Paste.

Related: copy and paste in Google Sheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get “This action won’t work on multiple selections”?

You selected separate ranges with Ctrl. Copy one block at a time, or use a filter as described above.

Can I copy rows to a different spreadsheet?

Yes. Copy, open the other spreadsheet, and paste. Formulas that refer to other tabs may need updating.

Does copying rows copy hidden rows too?

Rows hidden by a filter aren’t copied. Manually hidden rows may be included, so use a filter if you need to exclude them.

Summary

1. Click the first row number, Shift + click the last.
2. Press Ctrl + C.
3. Click the destination row number and press Ctrl + V.
4. Use Ctrl + Shift + V for values only.