XL: Using OFFSET, MATCH, and MAX to Return Last Value in Range

ID: Q152407

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

By using a combination of the OFFSET, MAX, and MATCH functions in a worksheet formula, you can have Microsoft Excel return the value of the last valid cell in a range of cells.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example formula will find the value of the last valid cell in a row

     =OFFSET(<StartCell>,0,MATCH(MAX(Range)+1,<Range>,1)-1)

where <StartCell> is the address of the first cell of a range, and <Range> is the address of the cells containing the data.

The following example formula will find the value of the last valid cell in a column:

     =OFFSET(<StartCell>,MATCH(MAX(<Range>)+1,<Range>,1)-1,0)

where <StartCell> is the address of the first cell of a range, and <Range> is the address of the cells containing the data.

Example 1

This example demonstrates using both formulas to find the value of the last valid cell in both a row and a column.

1. Type the following information into a worksheet:

      A1:  1     B1:        C1:  2      D1:  1      E1:
      A2:        B2:  2     C2:  14     D2:         E2:
      A3:  9     B3:  4     C3:         D3:  10     E3:
      A4:        B4:        C4:  5      D4:         E4:
      A5:        B5:        C5:         D5:         E5:

2. In cell E1, type the following formula:

      E1: =OFFSET(A1,0,MATCH(MAX(A1:D1)+1,A1:D1,1)-1)

3. With cell E1 selected, grab the fill handle and fill the formula down

   through cell E4.

4. In cell A5, type the following formula:

      A5: =OFFSET(A1,MATCH(MAX(A1:A4)+1,A1:A4,1)-1,0)

5. With cell A5 selected, grab the fill handle and fill right the formula

   through cell D5.

6. The resulting worksheet looks as follows:

      A1:  1     B1:        C1:  2      D1:  1      E1:  1
      A2:        B2:  2     C2:  14     D2:         E2:  14
      A3:  9     B3:  4     C3:         D3:  10     E3:  10
      A4:        B4:        C4:  5      D4:         E4:  5
      A5:  9     B5:  4     C5:  5      D5:  10     E5:

Example 2

This example uses a checkbook to demonstrate how to always display the current balance of the checkbook.

1. Type the following information into a worksheet:

      A1:          B1:                C1:  Current Balance  D1:
      A2: Date     B2: Transaction    C2:  Description      D2: Balance
      A3: 1/1/96   B3: 125            C3:  Opening Balance  D3:
      A4:          B4:                C4:                   D4:
      A5: 1/5/96   B5: 100            C5:  Deposit          D5:
      A6: 1/6/96   B6: -115           C6:  Payment          D6:
      A7: 1/7/96   B7: 65             C7:  Deposit          D7:
      A8:          B8:                C8:                   D8:
      A9:          B9:                C9:                   D9:
      A10:         B10:               C10:                  D10:

2. Type the following formulas into the worksheet:

      D3:  =B3
      D4:  =D3+B4

3. With cell D4 selected, grab the fill handle and fill down the formula

   through cell D7. After filling the formula down, the results will be
   as follows:

      D1:
      D2:   Balance
      D3:   125
      D4:   125
      D5:   225
      D6:   110
      D7:   175
      D8:
      D9:
      D10:

4. In cell D1, type the following formula to display the current balance:

      D1: =OFFSET(A2,MATCH(MAX(A3:A10),A3:A10,0),3)

   This formula displays the current balance of 175 in cell D1, which is
   the same value as the value in cell D7.

5. Type the following information in the following cells:

      A10:  2/1/96    B10:  -125    C10:  Payment     D10:

   With cell D7 selected, grab the fill handle and fill down the formula
   through cell D10. After filling the formula down, the results will be
   as follows:

      D1:   50
      D2:   Balance
      D3:   125
      D4:   125
      D5:   225
      D6:   110
      D7:   175
      D8:   175
      D9:   175
      D10:  50

   Note that the Current Balance in cell D1 now reflects the value in
   cell D10.

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q139574
   TITLE     : XL: Returning the Address of the Cell with Largest or
               Smallest Value

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142526
   TITLE     : XL: How to Determine Top and Bottom Used Cells in a Sparse
               Array

   ARTICLE-ID: Q85234
   TITLE     : Excel: Formula To Find Last Valid Cell in a Range

REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

For more information about the OFFSET, MATCH, and MAX functions in Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu and type one of the following:

   Offset
   Match
   Max

Microsoft Excel 7.0

For more information about the OFFSET, MATCH, and MAX functions in Microsoft Excel version 7.0, click Answer Wizard on the Help menu and type:

   Offset
   Match
   Max

Microsoft Excel 5.0

For more information about the OFFSET, MATCH, and MAX functions in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, click the Search button in Help and type:

   Offset
   Match
   Max

Additional query words: 98 8.00 XL97

Keywords          : xlformula 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 8, 1999