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How to find the column number of a value in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$D$1,0)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Region | Units | Sales | Profit |
| North | 100 | 5000 | 1200 |
| South | 80 | 4000 | 900 |
| East | 120 | 6000 | 1500 |
| West | 90 | 4500 | 1050 |
=MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$D$1,0)→3
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Step by step
- 1Apply MATCH horizontally across a row of headers: =MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$Z$1,0) returns the column position within that header row.
- 2To convert to an absolute column number, add COLUMN of the first cell minus 1: =MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$Z$1,0)+COLUMN($A$1)-1.
- 3Use the result as the col_num in INDEX: =INDEX(A2:D10,MATCH(lookupRow,A2:A10,0),MATCH("Sales",A1:D1,0)) for a fully dynamic two-way lookup.
Tips
- Use ADDRESS(1, MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$Z$1,0)) to convert the column number to a cell address string like "C1" if you need to display it.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
How do I get the column letter instead of the column number?
Wrap the result in SUBSTITUTE and ADDRESS: =SUBSTITUTE(ADDRESS(1,MATCH("Sales",$A$1:$Z$1,0),4),"1","") returns the column letter(s) like "C".