How to use ROWS Function in Excel? (with Examples)

What Does Rows Function Do in Excel?

In simple words “ROWS” function in excel returns the count of the number of rows selected in the range. It is different from the row function in excel, where row function gave us the row number for the selected cell instead rows function takes an array of rows as an argument and gives us the number of rows in that array, this is also a referencing function to identify the number of rows in a given array.

The array is nothing but cell reference. A cell reference could be a single cell or range of cells.

How to Use Rows Function in Excel? (with Examples)

You can download this Rows Function Excel Template here – Rows Function Excel Template

Example #1 – Using Rows Cell Reference

Let’s look at the simple example of ROWS function in excel. In cell B3 I will open the ROWS formula. In an array argument, I will give the cell reference as A1.

I will close the bracket and hit enter, see what we get.

Since only one cell has been selected it has returned the result as 1.

Now I will change the cell reference from A1 to A1: A3.

Now close the formula and see what the result is.

This time we got the result as 3.

The reason why we got the result as 3 because closely look at the cell reference, it says A1: A3 i.e. totally three rows are selected in the range of cells.

Example #2 – Using Column Cells Reference

ROWS function counts only how many rows are selected in the reference. Now I will apply the formula in cell B3 as below.

I have given the cell reference as A1: C1, let’s see what the result is.

Popular Course in this category

All in One Excel VBA Bundle (35 Courses with Projects)4.9 (1,353 ratings) 35+ Courses | 120+ Hours | Full Lifetime Access | Certificate of Completion

View Course

Even though I have selected 3 cells still we got the result as 1 only!!!

This is because we have selected 3 cells in the same row i.e. different column cells. Since we have selected the range of cells in the same row we got the result as 1 only.

So, ROWS Formula cannot count COLUMNS here.

Example #3 – Count of Rows

ROWS function counts only how many rows are there in the reference, now look at this example.

I have given the cell reference as A4 i.e. 4^th row of the worksheet, hit enter and see what the result is.

Oh!!! The result is 1 even though we have selected the 4^th row of the worksheet.

As we told in the beginning ROWS function doesn’t return row number rather it returns only the count of selected rows. In this case, since we have selected only one row the result is 1, not 4.

Example #4 – Insert Serial Numbers

We can use ROWS function to insert serial numbers from 1. For example, we usually insert serial numbers from cell A2, so we will show you how to insert serial numbers with ROWS formula in excel.

Open ROWS function in cell A2.

Select the cell reference as A2: A2.

For the first cell, the reference makes the reference as absolute. $A$2: A2.

Now hit the enter key. By hitting enter key we should get the result as 1.

Now simply drag the formula down to get the serial numbers.

Since we have made the first part of the cell reference as absolute it remains the same when we drag down but another cell part of the cell reference keeps changing from A2 to A3, A3 to A4 and so on.

Difference between ROW & ROWS

After knowing ROWS function it is important to know how it differs from ROW function in excel. Both are so confusing, so we will sort out this now.

The ROW function returns the selected cell’s row number in the worksheet. For example, if we select the cell reference as A3 by using the ROW function.

Since A3 is the 3^rd row in the worksheet we got the result as 3.

But on the other hand, if we enter the same cell reference by using ROWS function.

we will get the result as 1.

Because Excel ROWS formula returns the count of how many rows are selected in the range.

So, ROW Function returns the row number of the selected cell and ROWS formula returns the count of selected rows in excel.