Find the number of any Excel column, or the column letter for a number. Type AB to get 28, or 28 to get AB. Useful for VLOOKUP column numbers, VBA code and INDEX formulas.
RangeA (1) to XFD (16384)
ConvertsBoth ways
Excel formulaIncluded
Type letters (A to XFD) or a number (1 to 16384). It converts both ways.
Column number
- First cell
- Whole column
In Excel
| To get | Formula |
|---|---|
| The number of column AB | =COLUMN(AB1) |
| The number from a letter in A2 | =COLUMN(INDIRECT(A2&"1")) |
| The letter for column 28 | =SUBSTITUTE(ADDRESS(1,28,4),"1","") |
See the COLUMN and INDIRECT guides for how these work.
Quick reference
| Letter | Number |
|---|---|
| A | 1 |
| Z | 26 |
| AA | 27 |
| AZ | 52 |
| ZZ | 702 |
| AAA | 703 |
| XFD | 16,384, the last column |
Frequently asked questions
How many columns does Excel have?
16,384, from A to XFD, in Excel 2007 and later.
How do I see column numbers instead of letters?
File → Options → Formulas → tick R1C1 reference style. Columns then show as numbers.