Relative and absolute cell references

In formulas you can specify relative and absolute cell references. This only becomes significant when you copy formulas, which is something you do often in Excel.

When you copy a relative cell reference from one cell to another, the reference will have the same relative position in both cells.

When you copy an absolute cell reference from one cell to another, the reference will point to exactly the same cell in both cells.

How to write relative and absolute cell references

Cell references are absolute if they are preceded by a dollar sign ($), otherwise they are relative.

More specifically, every cell reference actually consists of a column reference and a row reference. Each of these can be made absolute or relative:

• A1 – both column and row references are relative
• $A1 – the column reference is absolute
• A$1 – the row reference is absolute
• $A$1 – both column and row references are absolute

When you cut (and insert rows and columns), references always behave like absolute cell references. The cells thus keep the same references in their new location too. It is when copying that absolute and relative cell references matter.