Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 27, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
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 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Determining Columns in a Range.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
The process of combining string (text) values to make a new string is called concatenation. Excel provides the ...
Discover MoreWhen working with finances, you often need to know the rate of return on a given investment. The most common type of ...
Discover MoreWant to figure a date a certain number of months in the future or past? The EDATE function may be just what you need for ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
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.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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:
Comments