ROW

• How to use ROW formula?
• Examples of using ROW formula
• ROW formula not working?
• Similar formulas to ROW

Usage

Use the ROW formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 optional parameter:

=ROW([cell_reference])

1. cell_reference (optional):
   The reference to the cell for which to return the row number. If no cell reference is provided, the row number of the cell in which the formula is entered is returned.

Examples

Determine the row number of a specific cell

By specifying a cell reference as the input parameter, ROW can be used to determine the row number of that cell. This information can be useful for data analysis and manipulation.

Create dynamic formulas

By using ROW in combination with other formulas, such as OFFSET, dynamic formulas can be created. For example, a formula can be created to always reference the cell in the same column but a row number that changes based on the row in which the formula is entered.

Conditional formatting

By using ROW in conditional formatting rules, it is possible to apply formatting to specific rows based on their row number. For example, rows with odd row numbers can be formatted differently than rows with even row numbers.

Common Mistakes

Not providing a cell reference

If no cell reference is provided, the ROW formula will return the row number of the cell where the formula is located. Make sure to provide a cell reference if you want to get the row number of a specific cell.

Providing an invalid cell reference

If the cell reference provided is invalid (e.g. does not exist or contains an error), the ROW formula will return an error. Double-check that the cell reference provided is valid.

Not using absolute cell references

If the ROW formula is copied to other cells, it will return the row number of the corresponding cell in each row. To get the row number of a specific cell, make sure to use absolute cell references (e.g. $A$1) instead of relative cell references (e.g. A1).

Using ROW to reference a row number in another sheet

The ROW formula only returns the row number of a cell in the same sheet where the formula is located. If you want to reference a row number in another sheet, use a combination of the sheet name and the ROW formula (e.g. Sheet2!ROW(A1)).

Not considering hidden rows

If there are hidden rows in the sheet, the ROW formula will still return the row number of the hidden rows. Make sure to unhide the rows first or use the FILTER function to exclude hidden rows.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to ROW or are often used with it in a formula:

• COLUMN

  The COLUMN formula returns the column number of a given cell reference. It is most commonly used as a helper function for other formulas that require the column number as an argument.

• ADDRESS

  The ADDRESS formula in Google Sheets returns a cell reference as a string, given the row and column numbers. It can also return an absolute or relative reference, and can include sheet name in the reference. This formula is most commonly used to create dynamic references in other formulas or to create a cell reference based on certain criteria.

• OFFSET

  The OFFSET formula in Google Sheets returns a cell or range of cells that is a specified number of rows and columns from a starting cell reference. This formula is most commonly used to create dynamic ranges that can expand or contract as data is added or removed from a sheet.

Learn More

You can learn more about the ROW Google Sheets function on Google Support.