The only difference between the two formulas is that the second one (on the right) includes a cell reference (E1) in the rows argument. The image on the left shows the function's route and the screenshot on the right demonstrates how you can use the OFFSET formula on real-life data. As the result, this OFFSET formula returns the value in cell B4. The formula tells Excel to take cell A1 as the starting point (reference), then move 3 rows down (rows argument) and 1 column to the left (cols argument). The following OFFSET formula returns a cell reference based on a starting point, rows and cols that you specify: If either is omitted, the height or width of the starting reference is used.ДЄnd now, let's illustrate the theory with an example of the simplest OFFSET formula. Width - the width, in number of columns, of the returned reference.Д«oth the height and width arguments must always be positive numbers.Height - the height, in number of rows, of the returned reference.As well as rows, cols can be positive (to the right of the starting reference) or negative (to the left of the starting reference). Cols - The number of columns you want the formula to move from the starting point.If rows is a positive number, the formula moves below the starting reference, in case of a negative number it goes above the starting reference. Rows - The number of rows to move from the starting point, up or down.You can think of it as the starting point. Reference - a cell or a range of adjacent cells from which you base the offset.It looks like Microsoft made a good effort to put some meaning into the parameters' names, and they do give a hint at what you are supposed to specify in each. All of the arguments can be references to other cells or results returned by other formulas. The first 3 arguments are required and the last 2 are optional. The syntax of the OFFSET function is as follows: The OFFSET function in Excel returns a cell or range of cells that is a given number of rows and columns from a given cell or range.

OFFSET function - limitations and alternativesД®xcel OFFSET function - syntax and basic uses.OFFSET formula to create a dynamic range.Using OFFSET in Excel - formula examples.Excel OFFSET function - syntax and basic uses.The OFFSET function may be a bit tricky to get, so let's go over a short technical explanation first (I'll do my best to keep it simple) and then we will cover a few of the most efficient ways to use OFFSET in Excel.

So, what is OFFSET in Excel? In a nutshell, the OFFSET formula returns a reference to a range that is offset from a starting cell or a range of cells by a specified number of rows and columns. In this tutorial, we are going to shed some light on one of the most mysterious inhabitants of the Excel universe - the OFFSET function.

Excel shift cells down