Formula basics
Write formulas that update by themselves, copy them without breaking, and pull numbers from other sheets.
Lessons
In the order the Roadmap teaches them. The free one needs no sign-up.
In the full course. Beginner · 7 min
Your first formula
Write a formula that calculates from other cells and updates by itself when they change.
See the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 9 min
Order of operations
Know the order a formula does its math in, and use parentheses to get the answer you mean.
See the lessonFree · Beginner · 7 min
Why your formula broke when you copied it
Lock a cell with $ so a formula keeps working when you copy it down.
Start the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 7 min
Quick totals with AutoSum
Total a column in two clicks with AutoSum, and check the range it picks before you accept it.
See the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 10 min
Copy formulas down and across
Write a formula once and copy it down a column or across a row, with the fill handle, a double-click or a shortcut.
See the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 8 min
Reference another sheet
Pull a number from another sheet into a summary with a formula like =Downtown!E6, so the summary stays up to date.
See the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 10 min
Percent change and percent of total
Work out how much each line grew since last year, and what share of the total it makes up.
See the lessonIn the full course. Beginner · 8 min
Show formulas instead of results
Switch the sheet to show every formula, so you can spot a total someone typed in by hand and replace it with a formula.
See the lessonIn the full course. Confident · 10 min
Mixed references for tables of calculations
Fill a whole grid of calculations from one formula by locking only the column ($A4) or only the row (B$2).
See the lessonIn the full course. Confident · 10 min
Named ranges for readable formulas
Name a cell or a group of cells and use the name in formulas, so they read =C2*TaxRate instead of =C2*$G$1.
See the lessonPaths with these lessons
A path is a short list of lessons from the course, picked for one goal.
Excel basics in a weekend
For starting from zero, or only typing numbers into cells today.
14 lessons · about 2 h · 4 free · Beginner to Confident
See the pathReports that don't break
For a weekly or monthly report other people rely on.
11 lessons · about 1 h 45 min · 2 free · Beginner to Confident
See the pathExcel test prep
For an Excel test or skills check for an office, admin or analyst job.
15 lessons · about 2 h 30 min · 4 free · Beginner to Confident
See the pathLookups without the #N/A
For matching lists by hand today: prices, product names, staff details, commission tiers.
9 lessons · about 1 h 30 min · 2 free · Beginner to Advanced
See the pathExcel for finance and accounting
For bookkeeping, accounts or finance support work, or accounting study.
11 lessons · about 1 h 55 min · 1 free · Beginner to Advanced
See the pathGet the full course
Every lesson in the Excel course, with new lessons added as they're written.
- All 217 Excel lessons open today, and every new one as it's written.
- The Roadmap, Skills and all eight paths.
- A cheat sheet for every lesson you finish.
- At checkout, add the Google Sheets course for US$49.