Copying (cloning) an entire Google Sheets tab into another spreadsheet is fairly straightforward, including all its formulas, formatting, and data validations. There are a couple of methods you can use.
Method 1: Use the Built-In “Copy to” Feature
Google Sheets will copy:
Important: If your formulas reference other tabs or external ranges that aren’t also in the destination spreadsheet, those references could break or still point to the original spreadsheet. You may need to adjust them manually after copying.
Method 2: Make a Copy of the Entire File (If You Need All Tabs)
If you want to preserve every tab (and their formulas, formatting, etc.) from the source file:
This creates a new spreadsheet (completely separate from the original) which is a full clone:
Method 3: Manual Copy/Paste (Use Caution with References)
If for some reason the built-in “Copy to” feature doesn’t work as expected:
Note:
Tips for Keeping Formulas Intact
In Summary
By following these steps, you can ensure your tab is copied completely without losing formulas, formatting, or other features.
Method 1: Use the Built-In “Copy to” Feature
- Open the Google Spreadsheet that contains the tab you want to copy.
- Right-click the tab (sheet name) at the bottom of your spreadsheet.
- Select Copy to → Existing spreadsheet (or New spreadsheet, if you prefer).
- If you select Existing spreadsheet, a window will pop up, allowing you to choose which spreadsheet to copy the tab into.
- Click Select to confirm.
Google Sheets will copy:
- Formulas (these may change if they reference sheets/cells that don’t exist in the destination spreadsheet).
- Formatting (cell colors, fonts, conditional formatting, etc.).
- Data validation (dropdowns, rules, etc.).
- Column widths and row heights (in most cases).
Important: If your formulas reference other tabs or external ranges that aren’t also in the destination spreadsheet, those references could break or still point to the original spreadsheet. You may need to adjust them manually after copying.
Method 2: Make a Copy of the Entire File (If You Need All Tabs)
If you want to preserve every tab (and their formulas, formatting, etc.) from the source file:
- Open the source spreadsheet.
- Go to File → Make a copy.
- Enter a new name and optionally choose a new drive location.
- Click OK.
This creates a new spreadsheet (completely separate from the original) which is a full clone:
- All tabs, formulas, formatting, scripts, etc. are preserved.
Method 3: Manual Copy/Paste (Use Caution with References)
If for some reason the built-in “Copy to” feature doesn’t work as expected:
- Create or open the destination spreadsheet with an empty tab (or add a blank tab).
- In your source spreadsheet, select all cells in the tab you want to copy:
- Click the top-left corner above row “1” and to the left of column “A,” or press Ctrl + A twice (Windows) / Cmd + A twice (Mac) if everything is contiguous.
- Copy the cells ( Ctrl + C on Windows or Cmd + C on Mac ).
- In the destination tab, select the top-left cell (A1) and paste ( Ctrl + V or Cmd + V ).
- Ensure you choose Paste All or Paste Special → Paste values and formatting if prompted.
Note:
- This method typically preserves formatting, but it might change or break some references if your formulas point to other tabs or external data.
- After pasting, you may need to adjust references or re-apply certain data validations.
Tips for Keeping Formulas Intact
- Check for External References: If your formulas reference other tabs that you are not copying, those references may break or still reference the original spreadsheet.
- Use Find and Replace: After copying, you can do a Find and Replace (Ctrl + H / Cmd + H) to fix references (for example, changing OldSheet! to NewSheet! if you renamed the sheet).
- Test Key Formulas: Always spot-check critical formulas in the new sheet to confirm they are working as expected.
In Summary
- Right-click → Copy to is the easiest and most complete method to clone a single tab (including formatting and formulas).
- File → Make a copy clones the entire spreadsheet, if you want all sheets duplicated.
- Copy & paste can work for small or partial sections, but be mindful of references and data validation rules.
By following these steps, you can ensure your tab is copied completely without losing formulas, formatting, or other features.