Lookup
Reading which column a cell sits in
Definition
Reading the column number of a cell means giving COLUMN that cell.
Syntax
=COLUMN(reference)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
reference |
The cell whose column number you need, such as D3. |
Worked example
A grid stores a marker in D3. Column A is 1, B is 2, C is 3, and D is 4.
| A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| x |
Formula: =COLUMN(D3)
Result: 4. D is the fourth column.
Practice
Cell E4 holds x. In B2, write a formula that returns the column number of E4.
- In B2, write a COLUMN formula for E4.
- B2 should show the column of E4.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =COLUMN(E4) in B2.
E4 is in column 5.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
B2 uses COLUMN.
B2 now shows 5.
The next lesson is How many rows a block covers.
Related functions
COLUMN is the function that returns the column number of that cell.
Common mistake
Leaving the cell out, as in =COLUMN(): the formula then reports its own column instead of 4.