In this guide, we’ll explore two easy methods to find the column number in Excel. The first involves using an Excel option, while the second uses a simple Excel function.
Method 1: Display Column Numbers Using Excel Options
In Excel, columns are typically represented by letters (A, B, C, …, XFD), with the last column being number 16,384 😲.
But how do you convert a column letter to a number quickly? Here's how you can change the column headers to display numbers instead of letters:
- Open the File menu.
- Select Options.
- Go to the Formulas section.
- Check the R1C1 Reference Style option.
By enabling the R1C1 reference style, Excel will display both rows and columns as numbers, making it easier to identify the column number.
However, note that this changes the way Excel formulas work, which can make them more challenging to read. Here’s an example of how an R1C1 formula looks:
As you can see, R1C1 references aren’t as intuitive as the regular lettered columns, making it harder to visualize absolute and relative references. For this reason, we recommend using Method 2 below.
Method 2: Use the COLUMN Function to Find the Column Number
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to find the column number in Excel, the COLUMN function is your best bet.
=COLUMN()
Simply enter this function into any cell, and it will return the column number for that cell. You don’t even need to specify any arguments!
For example, if you use the function two columns after the last column in your table, Excel will calculate the correct column number for your data. In this case, our table contains 44 columns (46 - 2).
The ROW function can also help identify row numbers, but since row numbers are already visible in the row headers, it’s less useful for this specific task.
Conclusion: Two Simple Methods to Find Column Numbers in Excel
Whether you choose to change the reference style or use the COLUMN function, knowing how to find column numbers in Excel can help you navigate large datasets more efficiently. We recommend using the COLUMN function for simplicity and accuracy.
