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How to create a dynamic range with OFFSET in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Data cleaning & shapingExcel & Google Sheets
=SUM(OFFSET(A2,0,0,COUNTA(A2:A7),1))Try it with your data
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Step by step
- 1Anchor OFFSET at the first data cell, A2, with zero row and column shift.
- 2Set the height to COUNTA(A2:A7) so it always spans exactly the filled rows — here 5.
- 3Wrap in SUM (or feed the OFFSET into Name Manager) — the total stays correct as rows are added: 10+20+30+40+50 = 150.
Tips
- In Excel, define this OFFSET formula in Formulas → Name Manager to reuse it as a named range.
- OFFSET is volatile and recalculates often; for large sheets prefer an INDEX-based dynamic range.
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
Why use a dynamic range at all?
So charts and formulas automatically include new rows. Without it you must edit ranges by hand every time data is appended.
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