Relative & Absolute Cell References
There are a variety of ways to express cell references. These dictate how they will be treated
when used in a function or formula that is to be copied. It is important to understand them to be
able to control the way you wish to have references behave. Relative addresses are dynamic
in nature and allow things to change when copied. Absolute addresses utilize the $ (dollar
sign) symbol, in one or more places, to limit which aspects of the cell reference may change
when copied. Selecting which type to use depends on the circumstances and desired results:
1. Relative References require nothing to be changed to use them. In copying a function or
formula using a relative reference upward or downward, the row number can change. In
copying to the right or left, the column letter can change.
Examples
Original function: =SUM(A1:C1)
• Copied downward 1 row becomes =SUM(A2:C2)
• Copied to the right 1 column becomes =SUM(B1:D1)
2. Full Absolute References lock to a specific cell on the sheet. When a function or formula
contains a reference of this kind and is copied, the copied version will still point to the
exact cell that the original function or formula used. It does not matter if the original is
copied to the left, right, up, or down:
Examples
Original function: =SUM($A$1:$C$1)
• Copied up or down remains =SUM($A$1:$C$1)
• Copied left or right remains =SUM($A$1:$C$1)
3. Column Absolute References lock the alphabetic column designator so that it will not
change, but does not restrict the numeric row designator from changing:
Examples
Original function: =SUM($A1:$C1)
• Copied to the right or left remains =SUM($A1:$C1)
• Copied down 1 row becomes =SUM($A2:$C2)
4. Row Absolute References lock the numeric row designator so that is will not change,
but does not restrict the alphabetic column designator from changing:
Examples
Original function: =SUM(A$1:C$1)
• Copied up or down remains =SUM(A$1:C$1)
• Copied right 1 column becomes =SUM(B$1:D$1)
