--- title: "ROW function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel" description: "How to use ROW in Excel and Google Sheets: row numbers, automatic numbering that survives sorting, and shading every other row." canonical_url: "https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row" locale: en meta: "og:description": "How to use ROW in Excel and Google Sheets: row numbers, automatic numbering that survives sorting, and shading every other row." "og:image": "https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~Uk9XIGZ1bmN0aW9uIGluIEV4Y2VsOiBzeW50YXggYW5kIGV4YW1wbGVz%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBST1cgaW4gRXhjZWwgYW5kIEdvb2dsZSBTaGVldHM6IHJvdyBudW1iZXJzLCBhdXRvbWF0aWMgbnVtYmVyaW5nIHRoYXQgc3Vydml2ZXMgc29ydGluZywgYW5kIHNoYWRpbmcgZXZlcnkgb3RoZXIgcm93Lg%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~Uk9XKFtyZWZlcmVuY2VdKQ%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcm93Ig%2Cs_rQYJ7IzA0kKHGk1l.png" "og:image:height": "600" "og:image:type": image/png "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "ROW function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel" "twitter:image": "https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~Uk9XIGZ1bmN0aW9uIGluIEV4Y2VsOiBzeW50YXggYW5kIGV4YW1wbGVz%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBST1cgaW4gRXhjZWwgYW5kIEdvb2dsZSBTaGVldHM6IHJvdyBudW1iZXJzLCBhdXRvbWF0aWMgbnVtYmVyaW5nIHRoYXQgc3Vydml2ZXMgc29ydGluZywgYW5kIHNoYWRpbmcgZXZlcnkgb3RoZXIgcm93Lg%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~Uk9XKFtyZWZlcmVuY2VdKQ%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcm93Ig%2Cs_rQYJ7IzA0kKHGk1l.png" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt) # **The ROW function** Returns the row number of a cell. Left empty, it returns the row of the cell the formula is in. = ROW( ## **Syntax** ``` ROW([reference]) ```
**reference **(optional)
The cell to get the row number of. Left out, the formula's own cell.
## **Examples** B1=ROW(C7) | | A | B | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | **7** | A4=ROW()-1 | | A | B | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | Name | | 2 | | Ann | | 3 | | Ben | | 4 | **3** | Cy | B6=IF(MOD(ROW(),2)=0,"Even row","Odd row") | | A | B | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 4 | | | | 5 | | | | 6 | | **Even row** | ## **Read the guide** - [**Conditional formatting in Excel: highlight cells and rows with rules and formulas**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/conditional-formatting-excel) ## **Questions**
### How do I number rows automatically? In row 2, type =ROW()-1 and fill it down. The numbers stay right when you delete or insert rows. In Excel 365 you can also spill them with SEQUENCE.
### What is the difference between ROW and ROWS? ROW returns the row number of a cell, so ROW(C7) is 7. ROWS counts the rows in a range, so ROWS(C2:C7) is 6.
## **Related functions** - [**COLUMN**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/column) - [**INDEX**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/index) - [**MOD**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/mod) - [**SEQUENCE**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/sequence) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","name":"PracticeExcel","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/","logo":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"PracticeExcel","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/","alternateName":["Practice Excel Online","PracticeExcelOnline.com"],"publisher":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"},"workTranslation":{"@id":"https://excelopgaver.dk/#website"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#webpage","description":"How to use ROW in Excel and Google Sheets: row numbers, automatic numbering that survives sorting, and shading every other row.","name":"ROW function in Excel: syntax and examples","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row","@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#website"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#/schema/question/1"},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#/schema/question/2"}],"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://practiceexcelonline.com","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Excel functions","item":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"ROW function in Excel: syntax and examples","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#article","description":"How to use ROW in Excel and Google Sheets: row numbers, automatic numbering that survives sorting, and shading every other row.","headline":"ROW function in Excel: syntax and examples","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~Uk9XIGZ1bmN0aW9uIGluIEV4Y2VsOiBzeW50YXggYW5kIGV4YW1wbGVz%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBST1cgaW4gRXhjZWwgYW5kIEdvb2dsZSBTaGVldHM6IHJvdyBudW1iZXJzLCBhdXRvbWF0aWMgbnVtYmVyaW5nIHRoYXQgc3Vydml2ZXMgc29ydGluZywgYW5kIHNoYWRpbmcgZXZlcnkgb3RoZXIgcm93Lg%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~Uk9XKFtyZWZlcmVuY2VdKQ%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcm93Ig%2Cs_rQYJ7IzA0kKHGk1l.png","@type":["Article","TechArticle"],"author":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"},"image":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#/schema/image/1"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#webpage"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/row#/schema/question/1","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"How do I number rows automatically?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In row 2, type =ROW()-1 and fill it down. 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