How To Use ARRAYFORMULA in Google Sheets: A Beginner’s Tutorial

Google Sheets ARRAYFORMULA - How to Automate Formulas for Entire Columns

Intro
If you’re tired of dragging formulas down hundreds of rows in Google Sheets, there’s a better way: the ARRAYFORMULA function.
ARRAYFORMULA applies a formula to an entire column (or row) in one go, saving time and reducing errors. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to use it, plus a few tricks to avoid common mistakes.

What is ARRAYFORMULA in Google Sheets?

ARRAYFORMULA allows you to run formulas across ranges without manually copying them. It’s especially useful when you’re working with datasets that update often — like sales reports, Shopify exports, or ad campaign data.

Syntax:

=ARRAYFORMULA(array_formula)

• array_formula → The calculation you want to run across the range.

Example 1: Multiply Two Columns Without Dragging

Without ARRAYFORMULA:

=B2*C2

(then drag down)

With ARRAYFORMULA:

=ARRAYFORMULA(B2:B * C2:C)

This instantly applies the formula to every row.

Example 2: Adding Conditional Logic

You can combine ARRAYFORMULA with IF to apply conditions:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A2:A="UK", "GBP", "USD"))

Every row with “UK” in column A returns “GBP”, all others return “USD”.

Example 3: Applying to Dynamic Data

If your dataset grows daily, ARRAYFORMULA automatically applies formulas to new rows without re-dragging. Perfect for live reports in Looker Studio or connected data pipelines.

Common ARRAYFORMULA Mistakes

• Blank Row Issues → Add conditions to handle empty cells:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A2:A="", "", A2:A * B2:B))

• Mixed Data Types → Ensure all cells in a range are numbers if doing math.

• Overwriting Data → The ARRAYFORMULA output can’t sit in a column with other data.

💡 Pro Tip:
At Requisite Reporting, we use ARRAYFORMULA in Google Apps Scripts to remove load-heavy sheet formulas entirely - speeding up connected dashboards.

Conclusion

ARRAYFORMULA isn’t just a time-saver — it’s a foundation for building scalable, automated Google Sheets workflows. Once you master it, you’ll never drag formulas again.

References:

• Google Docs Editors Help: ARRAYFORMULA

• Requisite Reporting Blog

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Saving Time With Requisite Reporting

For eCommerce brands, time is money.

Manually entering data into Google Sheets can take up valuable hours every day.

Requisite Reporting offers a solution by automating data integration from various sources. Instead of spending time manually inputting data, brands can access their data seamlessly through Requisite Reporting’s pre-configured dashboards, saving over two hours daily.

This not only streamlines operations but also allows for more strategic use of time.

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Conclusion

ARRAYFORMULA isn’t just a time-saver — it’s a foundation for building scalable, automated Google Sheets workflows. Once you master it, you’ll never drag formulas again.

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Requisite Reporting offers a comprehensive solution for eCommerce brands, providing over 100 pre-configured dashboards and 600+ connectors to various data sources. The platform centralises data, allowing businesses to analyse performance across multiple channels in one place. Key features that support data analysis include:

1. Detailed Reports: Colour-coded reports provide clear insights into key metrics, making it easy to identify trends and areas for improvement.

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