How can I copy columns from one sheet to another with VBA in Excel?

calendar_today Asked Jan 2, 2010
thumb_up 16 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

The following works fine for me in Excel 2007. It is simple, and performs a full copy (retains all formatting, etc.): Sheets("Sheet1").Columns(1).Copy…. This is a prose walkthrough, ranked #94th of 303 by community upvote score, from 2010.


The Problem (Q-score 6, ranked #94th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2010

I’m trying to write a macro that copies the content of column 1 from sheet 1 to column 2 on sheet 2. This is how the module looks like but, when I run it, I get

Run time error 9, Subscript out of range.

Sub OneCell()
    Sheets("Sheet1").Select
    'select column 1 A1'
    Range("A1:A3").Select

    Selection.Copy
    Range("B1:B3").Select

    ActiveSheet.Paste

    Sheets("Sheet2").Select
    Application.CutCopyMode = False
End Sub

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 303 Excel VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds strong answer (top 25 %%) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — strong answer (top 25 %%) (+16)

Verbal answer — walkthrough without a code block

Note: the verified answer is a prose walkthrough. If you need a runnable sample, check Excel VBA entries ranked in the top 10 of the same archive.

The following works fine for me in Excel 2007.
It is simple, and performs a full copy (retains all formatting, etc.):

Sheets("Sheet1").Columns(1).Copy Destination:=Sheets("Sheet2").Columns(2)

“Columns” returns a Range object, and so this is utilizing the “Range.Copy” method. “Destination” is an option to this method – if not provided the default is to copy to the paste buffer. But when provided, it is an easy way to copy.

As when manually copying items in Excel, the size and geometry of the destination must support the range being copied.


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #94th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 95% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2010 and 2026

The answer is 16 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this sit in the top quartile of Excel VBA answers?
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Answer score +16 vs the Excel VBA archive median ~5; this entry is strong. The score plus 6 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+6) means the asker and 15 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

The answer has no code block — how do I turn it into a snippet?
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Use the walkthrough above as a checklist, then open a top-10 Excel VBA archive entry for a concrete starting template you can adapt.

This answer is 16 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2010, which is 16 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Excel VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #93?
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The pattern one rank above is “Excel VBA "Autofill Method of Range Class Failed"”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 6, Answer-score 16, original post 2010, ranked #94th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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