Get the Row or Column Number of a Cell in Excel

How to get the row or column number of the current cell or any other cell in Excel.

This tutorial covers important functions that allow you to do everything from alternate row and column shading to incrementing values at specified intervals and much more.

We will use the ROW and COLUMN function for this.  Here is an example of the output from these functions.

Though this doesn't look like much, these functions allow for the creation of powerful formulas when combined with other functions.  Now, let's look at how to create them.

Get a Cell's Row Number

Syntax

This function returns the number of the row that a particular cell is in.

If you leave the function empty, it will return the row number for the current cell in which this function has been placed.

If you put a cell reference within this function, it will return the row number for that cell reference.

This example would return 1 since cell A1 is in row 1.  If it was =ROW(C24) the function would return the number 24 because cell C24 is in row 24.

Examples

Now that you know how this function works, it may seem rather useless.  Here are links to two examples where this function is key.

Increment a Value Every X Number of Rows in Excel

Shade Every Other Row in Excel Quickly

Get a Cell's Column Number

Syntax

This function returns the number of the column that a particular cell is in.  It counts from left to right, where A is 1 and B is 2 and so on.

If you leave the function empty, it will return the column number for the current cell in which this function has been placed.

If you put a cell reference within this function, it will return the column number for that cell reference.

This example would return 1 since cell A1 is in row 1.  If it was =COLUMN (C24) the function would return the number 3 because cell C24 is in column number 3.

Examples

The COLUMN function works just like the ROW function does except that it works on columns, going left to right, whereas the ROW function works on rows, going up and down.

As such, almost every example where ROW is used could be converted to use COLUMN based on your needs.

Notes

The ROW and COLUMN functions are building blocks in that they help you create more complex formulas in Excel.  Alone, these functions are pretty much worthless, but, if you can memorize them and keep them for later, you will start to find more and more uses for them when working in large data sets.  The examples provided above in the ROW section cover only two of many different ways you can use these functions to create more powerful and helpful spreadsheets.