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TAKE function in Excel

Returns a specified number of contiguous rows or columns from the start or end of an array

=TAKE(array, rows, [columns])

TAKE syntax and parameters

Three arguments, two required.

  • arrayarrayRequired
  • rowsnumberRequired
  • columnsnumberOptional

TAKE examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. Top five deals — sort descending, then keep the first five rows:

    =TAKE(SORT(A2:C200, 3, -1), 5)

  2. The last row of an append-only log:

    =TAKE(A2:C200, -1)

TAKE in Google Sheets

No direct equivalent — here's the way around.

Try TAKE in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the TAKE formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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TAKE errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #VALUE!

    rows or columns is 0 — TAKE needs at least one of each (negatives count from the end).

Related functions

More ways Excel gets this done.