30 Excel Functions in 30 Days: 12 – COLUMNS

Yesterday, in the 30XL30D challenge, we got cell details with the CELL function, and learned that it’s useful for a few things, like extracting a worksheet name.

COLUMNS Function

For day 12 in the challenge, we’ll examine the COLUMNS function. Will this function be as useful? Or is it just another lazy function, like AREAS? Well, it does count the columns, as promised, and plays well with others, but nothing too exotic or powerful here.

So, let’s take a look at the COLUMNS information and examples, and if you have other tips or examples, please share them in the comments.

Function 12: COLUMNS

The COLUMNS function returns the number of columns in an array or reference.

How Could You Use COLUMNS?

The COLUMNS function can show the size of a table or named range:

• Count columns in an Excel Table
• Sum last column in a named range

COLUMNS Syntax

The COLUMNS function has the following syntax:

• COLUMNS(array)
  • array is an array or array formula, or reference to a range.

COLUMNS Traps

If you’re using a range reference, it must be a contiguous range.

Example 1: Count Columns in an Excel Table

In Excel 2007 and Excel 2010, you can create a formatted Excel table, and refer to its name in a formula. In this example, there is a table named RegionSales,

and the COLUMNS function counts the number of columns in that table.

=COLUMNS(RegionSales)

Example 2: Sum Last Column in Named Range

If you combine the COLUMNS function with SUM and INDEX, you can get the total for the last column in a named range. Here, the range is named MyRange,

and this formula sums the last column in the named range.

=SUM(INDEX(MyRange,,COLUMNS(MyRange)))

Download the COLUMNS Function File

To see the formulas used in today’s examples, you can download the COLUMNS function sample workbook. The file is zipped, and is in Excel 2007 file format.

Watch the COLUMNS Video

To see a demonstration of the examples in the COLUMNS function sample workbook, you can watch this short Excel video tutorial.

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