What you will build

You will calculate Cost in D2:D3, then protect only that formula range so input cells B2:C3 can remain editable for collaborators.

Learning objective

Enter and verify the cost formula, select D2:D3, open Data > Protect sheets and ranges, confirm the protected range in the sidebar, and review the range-editing permissions before saving the protection.

Open the practice workbook

The example table is A1:D3. B contains Hours, C contains Rate and D is reserved for Cost formulas.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Google Sheets showing the complete A1:D3 task table before the Cost formulas are entered.

Open the sample workbook in Google Drive (access required) ↗

Hands-on practice

Step 1: Click D2, enter =B2*C2 and press Enter. Copy the formula to D3. The verified results are D2 = 100 and D3 = 120.

=B2*C2
TaskHoursRateCost
Review250100
QA340120

The Cost values are formula results: D2 = 2 × 50 = 100 and D3 = 3 × 40 = 120.

Google Sheets showing the full A1:D3 table with verified Cost results 100 and 120 after the formulas are entered.

Step 2: Select D2:D3, then open Data > Protect sheets and ranges. This opens the protection controls for the formula cells you want to keep from accidental edits.

Google Sheets Data menu with Protect sheets and ranges visible while preparing to protect D2:D3.

Step 3: In the Protected sheets and ranges sidebar, confirm the Range field is D2:D3. Add a clear description if useful, then continue to set permissions.

Protected sheets and ranges sidebar in Google Sheets configured for range D2:D3.

Step 4: Review the range editing permissions. Choose the option that matches who should be allowed to edit the protected range, then save the rule. The workbook owner can return to this sidebar later to change or remove the protection.

Google Sheets range editing permissions dialog for the protected D2:D3 formula range.

Checkpoint

Common mistakes and fixes

If the wrong cells are protected, edit the rule and correct the range to D2:D3. If the Cost values are wrong, verify D2 contains =B2*C2 and D3 uses the copied relative formula =B3*C3. If a collaborator needs to edit the formula range, review the permission rule rather than removing all protection.

Independent practice

Keep D2:D3 protected but change an input in B2:C3. Confirm the Cost formula recalculates while the formula cells themselves remain the protected range.

Key takeaways

  • ✓D2 uses =B2*C2 and returns 100; copying it to D3 returns 120.
  • ✓Select D2:D3 before opening Data > Protect sheets and ranges.
  • ✓Confirm the exact range in the Protected sheets and ranges sidebar.
  • ✓Use the permission dialog to decide who may edit the protected formula cells.
  • ✓Range protection reduces accidental edits but does not replace sharing permissions.
QUICK CHECK

Check your understanding

Answer four questions about the practice sheet.

1. What does =B2*C2 return with the sample data?
2. Which range is protected in this lesson?
3. Which menu path opens the protection controls?
4. What does range protection NOT do?

Continue learning

Previous lesson: Share a Google Sheet safely; Next lesson: Create a dropdown list.