find the last column of data in Excel

In this article, we will learn to return the Last column of data in Excel.

Scenario:

In simple words, while working with long unmannerly data, and then if needed to extract the column number of the last cell from range. We can use the below explained formula in Excel and can use the same in formulas to feed the row value. The formula considers all kinds of data types and blank cells in between range arrays.

For this article we will be needing the use the following functions:

Now we will make a formula out of these functions. Here we will give a list of values as data. We need to find the column of the last cell value in the given input data or say the last non-blank cell in the range.

Syntax:

=MIN(COLUMN(data))+COLUMNS(data)-1

data : list of values having data.

Example:

All of these might be confusing to understand. So, let's test this formula via running it on the example shown below. Here we will perform the formula over values and significance with the range data.

Use the formula:

=MIN(COLUMN(range))+COLUMNS(range)-1

"range" argument given as named range for the array A1:AA4 in the above formula

Explanation:

COLUMN function returns a range of values from the first cell column index to the last cell column index.
COLUMNS function returns the number of columns in the range.
MIN(COLUMN(range)) returns the lowest count of cells in the column in range.
=MIN(COLUMN(range))+COLUMNS(range)-1 returns the last column number from the last cell.

Here the array to the function is given as the named range. Press Enter to get the last column number as result.

As you can see in the above snapshot the column number of the last non blank cell is 27. You can feed the result with other functions to extract different results.

Value from the last non blank cell.

Use the INDEX function to get the value from the last column of data.

Use the formula:

=INDEX(range,1,F8)

As you can see from the above formula you can get the date value from the last column as well.

Here are some observational notes using the above formula.

Notes:

The formula returns the last column index as a result.
The formula returns a number and can be fed to other functions as number argument.
Named range in the formula be used with correct keywords.

Hope this article about How to Find the Last column of data in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on reference formulas here. If you liked our blogs, share it with your fristarts on Facebook. And also you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We would love to hear from you, do let us know how we can improve, complement or innovate our work and make it better for you. Write to us at info@exceltip.com.

Related Articles:

How to use the INDEX function : Return the value with the index position from the array in Excel using INDEX function.

Find the last row with mixed data in Excel : working with long unmannered numbers, text or blank cell data. Extract the last row with non blank cell using the formula in Excel.

Finding the Last Day of a Given Month : Returns the last day of a given month.

How to Get Last Value In Column : Find the last value in a column or list.

Difference with the last non blank cell : Returns the SUM of values between given dates or period in excel.

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