Fill handle mode


Fill handle mode examples


Use Excel's fill handle mode to complete a data sequence. This is normally performed down a column, or in a row to the right, but reverse directions are also possible.


Seed one cell


Initial selection (seed)Extended series
1 1, 1, 1, 1, ...
A A, A, A, A, ...
1-Jan-15 Dates: 2-Jan-15, 3-Jan-15, 4-Jan-15, ...
6:00 Times: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, ...
Product 1Product 2, Product 3, Product 4, ...
Item1Item2, Item3, Item4, ...
A1A2, A3, A4, ...
R1C1Trailing digits only: R1C2, R1C3, R1C4, ...
1stOrdinal indicators: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, ...
1st QtrQuarters 1 to 4: 2nd Qtr, 3rd Qtr, 4th Qtr, 1st Qtr, ...
Q1Quarters 1 to 4: Q2, Q3, Q4, Q1, ...
Q 1Quarters 1 to 4: Q 2, Q 3, Q 4, Q 1, ...
Qtr 1Quarters 1 to 4: Qtr 2, Qtr 3, Qtr 4, Qtr 1, ...
Quarter 1Quarters 1 to 4: Quarter 2, Quarter 3, Quarter 4, Quarter 1, ...
Half 1Half 2, Half 3, Half 4, Half 5, ...

Built-in lists


Initial selection (seed)Extended series
Mon Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon,...
Wednesday Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ...
MarApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, ...
OctoberNovember, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, ...
Initial selection
(seed and increment)
Jan, AprIncrement +3: Jul, Oct, Jan, Apr, ...

Seed and increment


Initial selection
(seed and increment)
Extended series
1, 2Increment +1: 3, 4, 5, 6, ...
A, B A, B, A, B, A, ...
10, 10.1Increment +0.1: 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, ...
10, 9.99Increment -0.01: 9.98, 9.97, 9.96, 9.95, ...
1/32, 1/16Increment +1/32: 3/32, 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, ...
31-Jan, 28-Feb Sequence - last day of month: 31-Mar, 30-Apr, 31-May, 30-Jun ...
1-Jan-15, 8-Jan-15Increment +7: 15-Jan-15, 22-Jan-15, 29-Jan-15, 5-Feb-15, ...
9:00, 9:15Increment +1/96: 9:30, 9:45, 10:00, 10:15, ...


Custom lists



Initial selection (seed)Extended series
Mallee Wimmera, South West, Loddon Campaspe, Central Highlands, Barwon, Goulburn Valley, North East, Gippsland, Metropolitan

Fill handle mode file


Fig 3: Excel Web App #1 - fill handle mode workbook

The fill handle is not available in the Excel Web App online version. Download the file to access the fill handle feature.


  • Related material: Excel pointers and the fill handle
  • This example was developed in Excel 2013 Pro 64 bit.

  • Published: 23 July 2015
  • Revised: Saturday 25th of February 2023 - 10:13 AM, [Australian Eastern Standard Time (EST)]