Excel Tutorial – OFFSET

Excel’s OFFSET function allows you to return a range of cells that is a specified number of rows and columns away from a starting cell. You can use it to create dynamic ranges that change based on certain conditions, or to create formulas that reference a range of cells that is not fixed.

Here’s how to use the OFFSET function:

1. In a cell, type the following formula: =OFFSET(reference, rows, cols, [height], [width])
2. Replace reference with the cell reference or named range that you want to use as the starting point for the offset.
3. Replace rows and cols with the number of rows and columns that you want to offset from the starting point. You can use positive or negative numbers to specify the direction of the offset. For example, a positive number for rows will move the range down, while a negative number will move it up.
4. Optionally, you can specify the [height] and [width] of the returned range. These arguments are the number of rows and columns in the returned range, respectively. If you omit these arguments, the OFFSET function will return a single cell.

Here’s an example of the complete formula: =OFFSET(A1, 1, 2, 3, 4)

This formula would return a range of cells that is 1 row down and 2 columns to the right of cell A1, and has a height of 3 rows and a width of 4 columns. The returned range would be A2:D4.

You can use the OFFSET function in combination with other functions to create dynamic formulas. For example, you can use it with the SUM function to sum a range of cells that changes based on certain conditions.