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Excel ROW Function

Author: Siluvia Last Modified: 2024-10-09

The Excel ROW function returns the row number of a reference.

showing the usage of ROW function

Syntax

=ROW ([reference])


Arguments

Reference (optional): It is the cell or a range of cells you want to get the row number.

  • If the reference parameter is omitted, it assumes that the reference is the cell address in which the ROW function currently appears.
  • If the reference is a range of cells which entered as vertical array (says =ROW(F5:F10)), it will return the row number of the first cell in the range (the result will be 5).
  • The reference can’t include multiple references or addresses.

Return value

The ROW function will return a number which representing the row of a reference.


Examples

The ROW function is very simple and easy to use in our Excel daily work. This section is going to show you some examples of ROW function to help you easily understand and use it in the future.

Example 1: The basic usage of ROW function in Excel

Select a cell and enter formula =ROW() into it will get the row number of this cell immediately.

As the below screenshot shown, copy the below formula into cell E3 will return the result as number 3.
=ROW()

showing the usage of ROW function

If specify a cell reference in the ROW function, such as =ROW(G103), it will return the row number 103 as below screenshot shown.

showing the usage of ROW function
Example 2: Automatically number rows in Excel with ROW function

The ROW function can help to automatically number rows, and the created serial numbers will be updated automatically when adding or deleting rows from the range. See the below demo:

showing the usage of ROW function

1. Supposing you want to start your serial numbers from 1 in cell A2, please select the cell and copy the below formula into it and press the Enter key.
=ROW()-1

showing the usage of ROW function

Note: If the beginning cell is A5, apply this formula =ROW()-4. Please subtract the row number above the current cell from where you are starting the serial number.

2. Keep selecting cell A2, drag the Fill Handle across the rows to create the series you need. See screenshot:

showing the usage of ROW function
Example 3: highlight every other row (alternate rows) in Excel with ROW function

In this example, we explain how to shade every other row (alternate rows) in Excel by using the ROW function. Please do as follows.

1. Select the range you want to apply color to the alternate rows, click Conditional Formatting > New Rule under the Home tab. See screenshot:

showing the usage of ROW function

2. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, you need to:

  • 2.1) Select the Use a formula to determine which cells to format option in the Select a Rule Type box;
  • 2.2) Enter formula =MOD(ROW(),2)=0 into the Format values where this formula is true box;
  • 2.3) Click the Format button to specify a Fill color;
  • 2.4) Click the OK button. See screenshot:
showing the usage of ROW function

Note: The formula =MOD(ROW(),2)=0 means that all even rows in the selected range will be highlighted with certain fill color. If you want to shade all odd rows in the selected range, please change the 0 to 1 in the formula.

Then you can see all even rows in selected range are highlighted immediately.

showing the usage of ROW function

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