What Does $A$1 Mean in Excel or Google Sheets?

In Excel and Google Sheets, $A$1 is an absolute cell reference. Both dollar signs keep column A and row 1 fixed when a formula is copied to another cell.

=$A$1*B2

When this formula is copied down or across, $A$1 stays unchanged while the relative reference B2 adjusts.

Relative, absolute and mixed references

Reference	What remains fixed when copied?
A1	Nothing; both column and row can change
$A$1	Column A and row 1
$A1	Column A only
A$1	Row 1 only

Dollar signs apply to the part immediately following them. $A1 fixes the column, while A$1 fixes the row.

Example of copying $A$1

Suppose cell C2 contains:

=$A$1*B2

Copying it down to C3 produces:

=$A$1*B3

The absolute reference remains $A$1; the relative row in B2 changes to B3.

Copying the original formula one column to the right produces:

=$A$1*C2

Again, $A$1 remains fixed while the relative reference moves with the copied formula.

Use F4 to add or change dollar signs

While editing a formula, select or place the cursor in a cell reference and press F4 to cycle through:

A1 → $A$1 → A$1 → $A1 → A1

On some keyboards you may need Fn+F4. Google Sheets and Excel both support cycling between relative, absolute and mixed references while entering a formula.

Absolute references in a range

Dollar signs work on range endpoints too:

=SUM($A$1:$A$10)

Both ends remain fixed when the formula is copied. Mixed ranges are also valid:

=SUM($A1:$A10)

Here the column remains fixed but the row numbers can adjust.

Copying versus moving a formula

Absolute references are primarily about copying or filling formulas. Relative references adjust according to the copy destination, while absolute portions remain fixed.

Moving a formula or its referenced cells can behave differently because spreadsheet applications may preserve or update references to keep them pointing at the moved cells. Test moves separately when restructuring a workbook; dollar signs should not be treated as protection against every structural edit.

When to use $A$1

Absolute references are useful when many formulas must use one constant cell, such as:

• a tax or discount rate;
• an exchange rate;
• a reporting date;
• a conversion factor; or
• a configurable assumption.

For example, if the tax rate is stored in A1, each row can use:

=B2*$A$1

Copy the formula down and B2 changes for each row, while $A$1 continues to reference the tax rate.

For a broader explanation, see absolute cell references in spreadsheets.