Copying sheets in excel vba

This tutorial will cover how to copy a Sheet or Worksheet using VBA.

Copy Worksheet to New Workbook

To copy a Worksheet to a new Workbook:

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy

Copy ActiveSheet to New Workbook

To copy the ActiveSheet to a new Workbook:

ActiveSheet.Copy

Copy Multiple Sheets to New Workbook

To copy multiple Sheets to a new workbook:

ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.Copy

Copy Sheet Within Same Workbook

We started off by showing you the most simple copy Sheets example: copying Sheet(s) to a new Workbook.  These examples below will show you how to copy a Sheet within the same Workbook. When copying a Sheet within a Worbook, you must specify a location.  To specify a location, you will tell VBA to move the Worksheet BEFORE or AFTER another Worksheet.

Copy Sheet Before Another Sheet

Here we will specify to copy and paste the Sheet before Sheet2

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Sheets("Sheet2")

Copy Sheet Before First Sheet

Instead of specifying the Sheet name, you can also specify the Sheet position. Here we are copying and pasting a Sheet before the first Sheet in the Workbook.

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Sheets(1)

The newly created Sheet will now be the first Sheet in the Workbook.

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Copy Sheet After Last Sheet

Use the After property to tell VBA to paste the Sheet AFTER another sheet. Here we will copy and paste a Sheet after the last Sheet in the Workbook:

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)

Notice that we used Sheets.Count to count the number of Sheets in the Workbook.

Move Sheet

You can also move a Sheet within a Workbook using similar syntax. This code will move Sheet1 to the end of the Workbook:

Sheets("Sheet1").Move After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)

Copy and Name Sheet

After copying and pasting a Sheet, the newly created sheet becomes the ActiveSheet. So to rename our new sheet, simply use ActiveSheet.Name:

Sub CopySheetRename1()

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)
ActiveSheet.Name = "LastSheet"

End Sub

If the Sheet name already exists, the above code will generate an error.  Instead we can use “On Error Resume Next” to tell VBA to ignore naming the Sheet and proceed with the rest of the procedure:

Sub CopySheetRename2()

    Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)
    On Error Resume Next
    ActiveSheet.Name = "LastSheet"
    On Error GoTo 0

End Sub

Or use our RangeExists Function to test if the Sheet name already exists before attempting to copy the sheet:

Sub CopySheetRename3()

    If RangeExists("LastSheet") Then
        MsgBox "Sheet already exists."
    Else
        Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)
        ActiveSheet.Name = "LastSheet"
    End If

End Sub

Function RangeExists(WhatSheet As String, Optional ByVal WhatRange As String = "A1") As Boolean
    Dim test As Range
    On Error Resume Next
    Set test = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(WhatSheet).Range(WhatRange)
    RangeExists = Err.Number = 0
    On Error GoTo 0
End Function

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Copy and Name Sheet Based on Cell Value

You might also want to copy and name a Sheet based on a Cell Value.  This code will name the Worksheet based on the Cell value in A1

Sub CopySheetRenameFromCell()

    Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)
    On Error Resume Next
    ActiveSheet.Name = Range("A1").Value
    On Error GoTo 0

End Sub

Copy Worksheet to Another Workbook

So far we’ve worked with copying Sheets within a Workbook. Now we will cover examples to copy and paste Sheets to other Workbooks. This code will copy a Sheet to the beginning of another workbook:

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Workbooks("Example.xlsm").Sheets(1)

This will copy a Worksheet to the end of another Workbook.

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy After:=Workbooks("Example.xlsm").Sheets(Workbooks("Example.xlsm").Sheets.Count)

Notice we replaced 1 with Workbooks(“Example.xlsm”).Sheets.Count to get the last Worksheet.

Copy Worksheet to a Closed Workbook

You might also want to copy a Worksheet to a Workbook that is closed.  This code will open a closed Workbook so that you can copy a Sheet into it.

Sub CopySheetToClosedWB()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False

    Set closedBook = Workbooks.Open("D:Dropboxexcelarticlesexample.xlsm")
    Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=closedBook.Sheets(1)
    closedBook.Close SaveChanges:=True

Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Copy Sheet from Another Workbook Without Opening it

Conversely, this code will copy a Worksheet FROM a closed Workbook without you needing to manually open the workbook.

Sub CopySheetFromClosedWB()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False

    Set closedBook = Workbooks.Open("D:Dropboxexcelarticlesexample.xlsm")
    closedBook.Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=ThisWorkbook.Sheets(1)
    closedBook.Close SaveChanges:=False

Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Notice that in both these examples we disabled ScreenUpdating so the process runs in the background.

Duplicate Excel Sheet Multiple times

You can also duplicate an Excel Sheet multiple times by using a Loop.

Sub CopySheetMultipleTimes()
Dim n As Integer
Dim i As Integer
On Error Resume Next

    n = InputBox("How many copies do you want to make?")

    If n > 0 Then
        For i = 1 To n
            ActiveSheet.Copy After:=ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(Worksheets.Count)
        Next
    End If

End Sub

You can copy and move a sheet in Excel using a VBA code, and in this tutorial, we will learn different ways to do that.

Copy a Sheet within the Same Workbook

If you want to copy a sheet within the same workbook, you can use the following code where you have used the copy method.

Sheets("Sheet5").Copy Before:=Sheets(1)

In this code, sheet1 is the first sheet in the workbook, and when you run this code, it copies the sheet with the name “Sheet5” before the first sheet in the workbook.

And if you want to copy it after the first sheet then the code would be like the following.

Sheets("Sheet5").Copy After:=Sheets(1)

And if you want to copy it after the first sheet, then the code would be like the following.

Sheets("Sheet5").Copy Before:=Sheets("Sheet3")
Sheets("Sheet5").Copy After:=Sheets("Sheet3")

When you run this VBA code, it copies the “Sheet5” before and after the “Sheet3”.

With the following line of code, you can copy a sheet after the last sheet in the workbook. It uses the sheet.count to get the count of the sheets and then uses the number to copy the sheet to the last.

Sheets("myNewSheet").Move After:=Sheets(Sheets.Count)

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Copy a Sheet in the Same Workbook with New Name

And if you want to copy a sheet and then want to rename it instantly, you need to use the name property, just like the following code.

Sheets("Sheet5").Move Before:=Sheets(1)
ActiveSheet.Name = "myNewSheet"

Move a Sheet within the Same Workbook

To move a sheet in the same workbook you need to use the move method as you have in the following code.

Sheets("Sheet5").Move After:=Sheets(1)

This code will move the “Sheet5” before the “Sheet2” as you can see in the above snapshot.

Copy a Sheet to the New Workbook

When you use the copy method without defining any sheet in the current workbook, VBA opens a new workbook and copy that sheet to that workbook.

Sheets("Sheet5").Copy

And to move a sheet to a new workbook.

Sheets("Sheet5").Move

Copy Multiple Sheets to the New Workbook

If you want to add multiple sheets to the new workbook in one go then use code like the following.

Sheets(Array("Sheet2", "Sheet3", "Sheet4", "Sheet5")).Copy

The above code creates an array of the sheets and then copy all of them to a new workbook.

Copy a Sheet to the Another Workbook

If you want to copy a sheet to another workbook that is already open then you can mention the workbook name after or before the argument.

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Workbooks("Book1.xlsx").Sheets(1)

The above code copies the Sheet1 from the active workbook and adds to the before the first sheet of the Book1.xlsx that is already open.

 And if you want to move it.

Sheets("Sheet1").Move Before:=Workbooks("Book1.xlsx").Sheets(1)

Copy a Sheet to a Closed Workbook

There’s a way that you can copy a sheet to a workbook that is closed and you don’t need to open it. Look at the below code.

Sub vba_copy_sheet()
Dim mybook As Workbook

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

Set mybook = _
Workbooks.Open _
("C:UsersDellDesktopsamplefile.xlsx")

Workbooks("Book1.xlsx").Sheets("Sheet2").Copy Before:=mybook.Sheets(1)
mybook.Close SaveChanges:=True

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

In this code, you have the myBook variable and then a workbook assigned to it. We have turned off the screen updating so that code can perform the task at the backend.

Copy Sheet from Another Workbook without Opening it

In the same way, you can copy and move a sheet from a closed workbook. Look at the below code.

Sub vba_copy_sheet()
Dim mybook As Workbook

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

Set mybook = _
Workbooks.Open _
("C:UsersDellDesktopsamplefile.xlsx")

mybook.Sheets("mySheet").Copy Before:=Workbooks("Book1.xlsx").Sheets(1)
mybook.Close SaveChanges:=True

Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

• Back to VBA Worksheet / VBA Tutorial

• 

Copy worksheet in VBA is used to Copy the worksheet from one location to another location in the same workbook or another new workbook or existing workbook. Where Copy is a method of Worksheet object. Please find the more information about Copy Worksheet(s) in the following chapter. Sometimes we may want to Copy worksheet in the active workbook at the beginning of the worksheet or in between worksheets or at the end of worksheet. According to our requirement we can Copy the worksheets using Copy method of Worksheet object in VBA.

In this Topic:

• VBA Copy Worksheet: Syntax
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Using Before
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Using After
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Before Specified Worksheet
• VBA Copy Worksheet: To New Workbook
• VBA Copy Worksheet: To Specific Workbook
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Instructions

VBA Copy Worksheet: Syntax

Please find the below syntax to Copy Worksheet using VBA.

Sheets(“Worksheet Number”).Copy([Before], [After])

Where
Before: It’s an Optional parameter. The worksheet will be Copied to before the specified worksheet. Then we can’t specify after parameter.
After: It’s an Optional parameter. The worksheet will be Copied to after the specified worksheet. Then we can’t specify after parameter.
Note: If you don’t specify either before or after, Excel will create new workbook that contains the Copied worksheet

VBA Copy Worksheet: Using Before

Please find the below example, It will show you how to Copy the Worksheet to the beginning.

Sub CopySheet_Beginning()
    Worksheets("Sheet3").Copy Before:=Worksheets(1)
End Sub

In the above example we are Copying the Worksheet named ‘Sheet3’ to the beginning of the worksheet. Where ‘1’ represents the Worksheet index number (Nothing but first available sheet in the workbook).

Sub CopySheet_Beginning1()
    ActiveSheet.Copy Before:=Worksheets(1)
End Sub

In the above example we are Copying the active worksheet to the beginning of the worksheet.

VBA Copy Worksheet: Using After

Please find the below example, It will show you how to Copy the Worksheet at the end of the available worksheets.

Sub CopySheet_End()
    Worksheets("Sheet3").Copy After:=Worksheets(Worksheets.Count)
End Sub

In the above example we are copying the Worksheet named ‘Sheet3’ to the end of the worksheet. Where ‘Worksheets.Count’ represents the number of available worksheets in the workbook

Sub CopySheet_End()
    ActiveSheet.Copy After:=Worksheets(Worksheets.Count)
End Sub

In the above example we are Copying the active worksheet to the end of the worksheet.

VBA Copy Worksheet: Before Specified Worksheet

Please find the below example, It will show you how to Copy the Worksheet either before or after the specified worksheet.

Sub CopySheet_Before()
    Worksheets("Sheet2").Copy Before:=Sheets("Sheet5")
End Sub

Please find the above example, we are Copying ‘Sheet2’ to the before ‘Sheet5’.

Sub CopySheet_Before()
    ActiveSheet.Copy Before:=Sheets("Sheet5")
End Sub

In the above example, we are Copying active sheet to the before ‘Sheet5’.

Sub CopySheet_After()
    Worksheets("Sheet2").Copy After:=Sheets("Sheet5")
End Sub

Please find the above example, we are Copying ‘Sheet2’ to the after ‘Sheet5’.

Sub CopySheet_After()
    ActiveSheet.Copy After:=Sheets("Sheet5")
End Sub

In the above example, we are Copying active sheet to the after ‘Sheet5’.

VBA Copy Worksheet: To New Workbook

Please find the below example, It will show you how to Copy the Worksheet named ‘Sheet1’ to new workbook.

Sub CopySheet_NewWorkbook()
    Sheets("Sheet1").Copy
End Sub

Please find the below example, It will Copy the active worksheet to new workbook.

Sub CopySheet_NewWorkbook()
    ActiveSheet.Copy
End Sub

VBA Copy Worksheet: To Specific Workbook

Please find the below example, It will show you how to Copy the Worksheet named ‘Sheet1’ to Specific workbook before ‘Sheet3’.

Sub CopySheet_SpecificWorkbook ()
    Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Workbooks("YourWorkbookName.xls").Sheets(“Sheet3”)
End Sub

Please find the below example, It will Copy the active worksheet to Specific workbook after ‘Sheet3’.

Sub CopySheet_SpecificWorkbook ()
    ActiveSheet.Copy After:=Workbooks("YourWorkbookName.xls"). Sheets(“Sheet3”)
End Sub

VBA Copy Worksheet Method- Instructions

Please follow the below step by step instructions to execute the above mentioned VBA macros or codes:

Step 1: Open an Excel Worksheet
Step 2: Press Alt+F11 to Open VBA Editor
Step 3: Insert a Module from Insert Menu
Step 4: Copy the above code for activating a range and Paste in the code window (VBA Editor)
Step 5: Save the file as macro enabled Worksheet
Step 6: Press ‘F5′ to run it or Keep Pressing ‘F8′ to debug the code line by line and have a look how the Worksheet(s) Copying in the workbook.

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Related Posts

• In this Topic:
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Syntax
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Using Before
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Using After
• VBA Copy Worksheet: Before Specified Worksheet
• VBA Copy Worksheet: To New Workbook
• VBA Copy Worksheet: To Specific Workbook
• VBA Copy Worksheet Method- Instructions

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5 Comments

1. Venkat
   August 29, 2015 at 5:07 PM — Reply

   Dear Mr.P N Rao ! What is the Basic difference b/w a macro and procedure..??

2. PNRao
   August 30, 2015 at 3:15 AM — Reply

   Hi Venkat,
   A Marco is a set of statements which generally created for completing repetitive simple tasks ( without programming concepts like data types, logical expressions, conditional statements etc.)

   Where as Procedures are written using programming concepts.

   Example: In MS Excel, We can use the Macro recorder to automate simple tasks. Application generates simple statements, where you can’t see any logical statements, etc. But, a programmer writes the procedures using programming concepts, which is more reliable and generalized.

   Hope this clarifies.
   Thanks-PNRao!

3. shahnas
   November 6, 2015 at 10:27 AM — Reply

   hi,

   how to copy one excel sheet(matser file) in to another excel work book( which contain 31 sheets) by date basis

4. Saranya
   November 10, 2015 at 7:50 PM — Reply

   I have several sheets in a source workbook and I need to copy each sheets’s data to another workbook which has got the same name as the sheet name in the source workbook. I have workbooks as many as the number of sheets in the source workbook. How to copy the data from sheets to workbooks in sheet2

5. Chait
   July 1, 2016 at 3:13 PM — Reply

   i have 2 workbooks in a location C:newfolder. I want sheet 1 from wb1, sheet3 from wb2 and place it one after the other in another existing workbook wb3 in the same location when i click a button in wb3. can you help me with a code?

This tutorial explains how to copy worksheets using Worksheets.Copy Method in Excel VBA, and demonstrate how to copy worksheet to another workbook.

You may also want to read:

Excel VBA Worksheets.Add Method to add new worksheet

Excel Workbooks Open Method and check if workbook open

Excel VBA Consolidate worksheets into one worksheet

Excel VBA Worksheets.Copy Method is to copy worksheet in a workbook. You can copy worksheets from one workbook to another workbook, and specify to insert after or before specific worksheet.

Syntax of Excel VBA Worksheets.Copy Method

expression .Copy(Before, After)

Name	Description
Before	Optional. The sheet before which the copied sheet will be placed. You cannot specify Before if you specify After.
After	Optional. The sheet after which the copied sheet will be placed. You cannot specify After if you specify Before.

If you don’t specify either Before or After, Microsoft Excel creates a new workbook that contains the copied sheet.

Example 1 – Copy worksheet in the same workbook

The below example copies “Sheet2” to the end of the worksheets, and rename it as “new worksheet”.

Public Sub cpy1()
    Sheets("Sheet2").Copy After:=Sheets(ThisWorkbook.Sheets.Count)
    ActiveSheet.Name = "new worksheet"
End Sub

The below example copies “Sheet2” and move to the first worksheet

Public Sub cpy2()
    Sheets("Sheet2").Copy Before:=Worksheets(1)
    ActiveSheet.Name = "new worksheet"
End Sub

Example 2 – Copy worksheet to another workbook

The below example copies worksheet “wbA ws1” to another workbook “workbook b” after worksheet “wbB ws1”

Public Sub cpywb()
    Workbooks("workbook a.xlsx").Worksheets("wbA ws1").Copy after:=Workbooks("workbook b.xlsx").Worksheets("wbB ws1")
End Sub

Example 3 – Copy worksheets to a new workbook

Sub cpyWS()
   Set Newbook = Workbooks.Add
   ThisWorkbook.Sheets("SheetA").Copy After:=Newbook.Sheets(Newbook.Sheets.Count)
   ThisWorkbook.Sheets("SheetB").Copy After:=Newbook.Sheets(Newbook.Sheets.Count)
End Sub

You may also read my another example to copy each worksheet to new workbook.

Example 4 – Copy worksheet from another closed workbook

This example was originally asked in Microsoft Community.

Question

Hi,

Need help with VBA Code.

I’ve searched and tried a few codes but have been having trouble finding something that works.

What I want to do:

1) I’m in an open and active workbook

2) I want to insert and new sheet at the end of all the sheets in the open workbook

3) The sheet I want to insert is from a closed workbook with several worksheets.

Info, Please use in example code, appreciated.

1) location:   “C:UsersXxxxDocumentsXxxxTarget File.xlsx”

Answer

Public Sub cpy()
     Application.ScreenUpdating = False
     Set fileB = Workbooks.Open("C:UsersXxxxDocumentsXxxxTarget File.xlsx")
     fileB.Sheets("Sheet2").Copy After:=ThisWorkbook.Sheets(ThisWorkbook.Sheets.Count)
     fileB.Close
     Application.ScreenUpdating = True
 End Sub

Outbound References

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff837784.aspx