The Cell Reference System
Every cell has an address made from its column letter and row number. B7 means column B, row 7.
Like a Street Address
Columns are lettered across the top, rows are numbered down the side. Where they cross is a cell, and its address is always the letter first, then the number.
- Column letter — Read across the top
- Row number — Read down the side
- Put them together — B7 = column B, row 7
How to do it
Column letter + row number = cell address B + 7 = B7
Always letter first, then number. B7 is a cell. 7B means nothing to Excel.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Columns | Lettered A to XFD |
| Rows | Numbered 1 to 1,048,576 |
| A cell | One letter plus one number |
| A range | Two addresses with a colon: A1:C10 |
Reading Addresses
A1 · B7 · D25 · AA1 · A1:C10 · A:A · 1:1
| Reference | What it means |
|---|---|
| A1 | Column A, row 1 |
| B7 | Column B, row 7 |
| A1:C10 | The block from A1 to C10 |
| A:A | The whole of column A |
| 1:1 | The whole of row 1 |
| Sheet2!A1 | Cell A1 on Sheet2 |
Result: Letter first
Every formula you ever write depends on getting these addresses right.
Do this
- Always write the letter before the number
- Use a colon for a range
- Use the sheet name and ! for another sheet
Avoid
- Writing 7B instead of B7
- Confusing the range colon with a comma
- Forgetting the ! when pointing at another sheet
📌 After column Z comes AA, then AB. After ZZ comes AAA. The last column is XFD.
Practice
- Click cell D12 and confirm the Name Box agrees.
- Select the range B2:E10 and count the cells.
- Find out what comes after column Z.
Quick quiz: What does the reference A1:C10 mean?
- Cell A1 and cell C10 only
- Every cell in the block from A1 to C10
- Column A to column C
Show answer
A1:C10 = 3 columns × 10 rows = 30 cells — A colon means a continuous block, including everything between the two corners.
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