Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Determining Columns in a Range.
One of the handy worksheet functions provided by Excel allows you to determine the number of columns in a range. This is accomplished through the use of the COLUMNS function. For instance, consider the following formula:
=COLUMNS(B2:D15)
The value returned is 3, since the range includes columns B, C, and D. You are not limited to address ranges (such as B2:D15); you can also use named ranges with the COLUMNS function.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10206) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Determining Columns in a Range.
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2020-06-29 10:43:52
Ken C
Wow! I just realized that the COLUMNS function can be used in a VLOOKUP so that you don't have to count columns. For example:
=VLOOKUP($A2,Sheet2!$A$2:$E$9999,(COLUMNS(A:E)),FALSE)
Could be handy when you have a lot of columns.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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