Paste Values Shortcut For Excel

After I create formulas in Excel, sometimes I want to lock in the results of those formulas, so I use the Paste Values command.

For example, I might use the RAND function to create a set of random numbers. After creating them, I don’t want them to change every time the sheet calculates.

Ribbon Commands

Here’s how I’d use the Ribbon commands to replace formulas with values.

1. Select the cells that contain the formulas
2. On the Ribbon’s Home tab, click the Copy command
3. On the Ribbon’s Home tab, click the lower half of the Paste command, to open the list of options
4. Click Paste Values

Old Commands

The steps are similar in earlier versions of Excel, but the commands are on the Standard toolbar, and the arrow is to the right of the Paste button.

Use Mouse Shortcut Menu

An even quicker way to paste values is by using a mouse shortcut:

1. Point to the border of the selected range, and the pointer should change to a four-headed arrow.
2. Press the right mouse button, and drag the cells slightly to the right.

   

3. Keep pressing the right mouse button, and drag the cells back to their original location.
4. Release the right mouse button and a shortcut menu will appear.
5. Click on Copy Here as Values Only.

The formulas are replaced by the values of their results.

Video: Mouse Shortcut Paste Values

This technique is a bit tough to explain, so if the written explanation didn’t make sense, here’s a very short video and I made.

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