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How to fill blank cells with a value in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Data cleaning & shapingExcel & Google Sheets
=IF(ISBLANK(A2),"N/A",A2)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Region | Filled |
| North | |
| South | |
| East |
=IF(ISBLANK(A2),"N/A",A2)→North
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Step by step
- 1Formula approach: In a helper column, enter =IF(ISBLANK(A2),"N/A",A2) — copy down all rows to show the filled version.
- 2In-place approach (Excel): Select the range, press Ctrl+G → Special → Blanks → OK, then type your fill value and press Ctrl+Enter to fill all selected blank cells at once.
- 3In Google Sheets in-place: Use Edit → Find and Replace with an empty search term and your fill value, checking 'Match entire cell contents'.
Tips
- After filling blanks in-place, copy the column and Paste Special → Values Only to lock the values before sharing the file — otherwise a formula-based fill column can be confusing.
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Frequently asked
How do I fill blanks with the value from the cell above (fill down)?
In Excel, select blanks with Go To Special, then in the formula bar type =A1 (the cell above the first blank) and press Ctrl+Enter — each blank fills with its own row's reference.
Does ISBLANK detect cells with just a space?
No — ISBLANK returns FALSE for cells containing spaces. Use =IF(TRIM(A2)="","N/A",A2) to also catch whitespace-only cells.
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