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INDIRECT function in Google Sheets

Returns a cell reference specified by a string.

=INDIRECT(cell_reference_as_string, [is_A1_notation])

INDIRECT syntax and parameters

Two arguments, one required.

  • cell_reference_as_stringstringRequired

    A cell reference, written as a string with surrounding quotation marks.

  • is_A1_notationbooleanOptional

INDIRECT examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. Total column B on whichever sheet is named in A2 (the quotes handle spaces in sheet names):

    =SUM(INDIRECT("'" & A2 & "'!B2:B13"))

    Result148200

  2. The cell beside the “Total” label, wherever that row ends up:

    =INDIRECT("B" & MATCH("Total", A:A, 0))

    Result148200

INDIRECT in Excel

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try INDIRECT in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

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

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INDIRECT errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #REF!

    The text doesn't resolve to a real reference — a misspelled or deleted sheet name, or a missing ! between the sheet and the range.

Related functions

More ways Google Sheets gets this done.