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INDEX function in Google Sheets

Returns the content of a cell, specified by row and column offset.

=INDEX(reference, [row], [column])

INDEX syntax and parameters

Three arguments, one required.

  • referencerangeRequired

    The range of cells from which the values are returned.

  • rownumberOptional

    [OPTIONAL - 0 by default] - The index of the row to be returned from within the reference range of cells.

  • columnnumberOptional

    [OPTIONAL - 0 by default] - The index of the column to be returned from within the reference range of cells.

INDEX examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. The classic INDEX/MATCH — the amount on the row where the customer matches:

    =INDEX(C2:C200, MATCH("Acme Corp", A2:A200, 0))

    Result12400

  2. Two-way lookup: the row from a customer name, the column from a header:

    =INDEX(A2:F200, MATCH(H2, A2:A200, 0), MATCH(H3, A1:F1, 0))

    Result"Paid"

INDEX in Excel

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try INDEX in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

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

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INDEX errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #REF!

    row or column is outside the array — INDEX counts from 1 inside the range you passed, not from the sheet's own row numbers.

Related functions

More ways Google Sheets gets this done.