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How to create a sequential list of numbers in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Data cleaning & shapingHeads up: Excel and Google Sheets do this differently.
Excel
=ROW(A1)Google Sheets
=SEQUENCE(5,1,1,1)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
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=ROW(A1)→1
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Step by step
- 1Fill handle: Type 1 in A1, 2 in A2, select both, and drag the fill handle down — Excel and Sheets both detect the pattern and continue the series.
- 2Formula (Excel / any version): In A1 type =ROW(A1) and copy down — always returns the row number of its own argument, giving 1, 2, 3, … regardless of where it's placed.
- 3Formula (Google Sheets / Excel 365): Use =SEQUENCE(10,1,1,1) in one cell to spill 10 sequential numbers starting at 1 with a step of 1 — adjust arguments as needed.
Tips
- SEQUENCE(n,1,start,step) is the most flexible option — for example, =SEQUENCE(5,1,10,5) gives 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 with no formula copies required.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
How do I create a list from 1 to 100 instantly?
In Sheets or Excel 365 use =SEQUENCE(100) — it spills all 100 numbers automatically. In older Excel, type 1, select A1:A100, and use Fill → Series.
Can I create a sequential list with even or odd numbers only?
Yes — use SEQUENCE with a step of 2: =SEQUENCE(5,1,2,2) gives 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (evens) or =SEQUENCE(5,1,1,2) gives 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (odds).
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