AutoFilling Dates in Microsoft Excel

How to Fill Sequential Dates in Excel

If you need to fill in dates sequentially across multiple cells, Microsoft Excel offers two easy methods to automate the process, saving you time from manually typing each date.

Method 1: Use the Fill Handle to Automatically Fill Dates

The Fill Handle is a quick and simple way to fill dates sequentially in your cells.

Steps:

1. Enter the First Date: In a cell, type the starting date (e.g., today’s date).
2. Select the Date Cell: Click on the cell with the date.
3. Drag the Fill Handle: Hover your cursor over the bottom-right corner of the selected cell until it becomes a small black cross.
4. Drag to Fill: Click and drag the Fill Handle downwards or across the cells where you want the sequential dates to appear. Excel will automatically fill the cells with sequential dates.

Method 2: Use the Fill Command to Fill Sequential Dates

For more control over how the dates are filled, you can use the Fill Command.

Steps:

1. Select the Date Cell and Range: Click on the cell that contains your starting date. Then, select the range of cells where you want Excel to fill in the dates.
2. Open the Fill Command:
   • Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
   • In the Editing section, click on Fill, then select Series from the dropdown.
3. Configure the Series:
   • In the Series dialog box, under Date Unit, choose the type of unit (e.g., Day, Month, or Year) for your sequential dates.
   • Click OK.
4. Result: Excel will fill the selected cells with sequential dates based on the unit you selected.

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