Numbering in Excel

Numbering in excel means providing a cell with numbers which are like serial numbers to some table, obviously it can also be done manually by filling first two cells with numbers and drag down to the end to table which excels will automatically fill the series or we can use the =ROW() formula to insert a row number as the serial number in the data or table.

Table of Contents

Numbering in Excel
How to Number Rows in Excel?

At the time of working with Excel, there are some small tasks that need to be done repeatedly and if we know the right way to do it, they can save a lot of time. Generating the numbers in excel is such a task which is often used while working. Serial numbers play a very important role in excel. This defines a unique identity to each record of your data.

One of the ways is to add the serial numbers manually in excel. But it can be a pain if you have the data of hundreds or thousands of rows and you must enter the row number for them.

This article will cover the different ways to do it.

How to Automatically Add Serial Number in Excel?

There are many ways to generate the number of rows in Excel.

You can download this Numbering in Excel Template here – Numbering in Excel Template

Using Fill Handle
Using Fill Series
Using ROW Function

#1 – Using Fill Handle

This identifies a pattern from a few already filled cells and then quickly used that pattern to fill the entire column.

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Let’s take below dataset.

For above dataset, we have to fill the serial no record-wise. Follow below steps:

Enter 1 in Cell A3 and enter 2 in Cell A4.
Select both the cells as per below screenshot.

As we can see there is a small square shown in the above screenshot rounded by red color called Fill Handle.
Place the mouse cursor on this square and double-click on the Fill handle.
It will automatically fill all the cells until the end of the dataset. Refer below screenshot.

As fill handle identifies the pattern and accordingly fill the respective cells with that pattern.

If you have any blank row in the dataset, then fill handle would only work till the last contiguous non-blank row.

#2 – Using Fill Series

This gives more control over data how the serial numbers are entered in excel.

Suppose you have below the score of students subject wise.

Follow below steps to fill series in the excel:

Enter 1 in Cell A3.
Go to the HOME tab. Click on Fill option under editing section as shown in below screenshot.

Click on Fill drop down. It has many options. Click on Series as shown in below screenshot.

It will open a dialog box as shown below screenshot.

Click on Columns under Series In section. Refer below screenshot.

Enter the value under Stop Value field. In this case, we have a total of 10 records, enter 10. If you skip this value, Fill Series option will not work.
Enter Ok. This will fill rows with serial number from 1 to 10. Refer below screenshot.

#3 – Using the ROW Function

Excel has a built-in function which also can be used to number the rows in Excel. To get the excel row numbering, enter the following formula in the first cell shown below:

The ROW function gives the excel row number of the current row. I have subtracted 3 from it as I started the data from the 4^th So If your data starts from 2^nd row, subtract 1 from it.
See the below screenshot. Using =ROW()-3 Formula

Drag this formula for the rest rows and the final result is shown below.

The benefit of using this formula for numbering is, if you delete a record in your dataset then it will not screw up the numberings. Since the ROW function is not referencing any cell address, it will automatically adjust to give you the correct row number.

Things to Remember about Numbering in Excel

Fill Handle and Fill Series options are static. If you move or delete any record or row in the dataset, then row number will not change accordingly.
ROW function gives the exact numbering if you cut and copy the data in Excel.