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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.
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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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