Excel Tips - Offset Function
What is the Offset Function?
The Offset Function is a function in Excel that returns a cell or range of cells that is a specified number of rows and columns from a cell or range of cells.
How to Use Offset Function in Excel
=OFFSET(reference, rows, cols, [height], [width])
reference - The starting point.
rows - The number of rows to offset below the starting reference.
cols - The number of columns to offset to the right of the starting reference.
height – The height in the number of rows of the returned reference. This is an optional input. By default, it is the same height as the reference.
width – The width in the number of columns of the returned reference. This is an optional input. By default, it is the same width as the reference.
Offset Function in Excel
The Offset Function has inputs for five different arguments as seen above. Inputting a positive number for the rows argument results in that number of rows down, while inputting a negative number would result in that number of rows up. Similarly, inputting a positive number for the cols argument results in that number of columns right, while a negative number would result in that number of columns left.
Excel Offset Function
So what is the practicality of using this function? The Offset Function can be a very useful and dynamic tool especially when combined with other formulas and when one of the arguments can vary. Most of the time Top Shelf uses the Offset Function is when it is combined with the Sum function.
