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Lookup and Reference - OFFSET Function
Description
The OFFSET function returns a reference to a range that is a specified number of rows and columns from a cell or range of cells.
The reference that is returned can be a single cell or a range of cells. You can specify the number of rows and the number of columns to be returned.
Syntax
OFFSET (reference, rows, cols, [height], [width])
Arguments
| Argument | Description | Required/ Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Reference |
The reference from which you want to base the offset. Reference must refer to a cell or range of adjacent cells. Otherwise, OFFSET returns the #VALUE! Error value. |
Required |
| Rows | The number of rows, up or down, that you want the upperleft cell to refer to. E.g. Using 5 as the rows argument specifies that the upper-left cell in the reference is five rows below reference. Rows can be positive (which means below the starting reference) or negative (which means above the starting reference). |
Required |
| Cols | The number of columns, to the left or right that you want the upper-left cell of the result to refer to. E.g. Using 5 as the cols argument specifies that the upperleft cell in the reference is five columns to the right of reference. Cols can be positive (which means to the right of the starting reference) or negative (which means to the left of the starting reference). |
Required |
| Height | The height, in number of rows that you want the returned reference to be. Height must be a positive number. |
Optional |
| Width | The width, in number of columns that you want the returned reference to be. Width must be a positive number. |
Optional |
Notes
If height or width is omitted, it is assumed to be the same height or width as reference.
OFFSET does not actually move any cells or change the selection. It just returns a reference.
OFFSET can be used with any function expecting a reference argument. E.g. the formula SUM(OFFSET(C2,1,2,3,1)) calculates the total value of a 3-row by 1column range that is 1 row below and 2 columns to the right of cell C2.
If rows and cols offset reference over the edge of the worksheet, OFFSET returns the #REF! error value.
If any the arguments, rows, cols, height or width is non-numeric, OFFSET returns the # VALUE! error value.
Applicability
Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016
Example
