How to use the COLUMNS Function in Excel

Using the Excel COLUMNS Function

Summary

The Excel COLUMNS function is used to return the number of columns in a reference range. For example, COLUMNS (A1:B1) would return 2 since the range A1:B1 contains two columns.

Syntax

=COLUMNS (array)

Syntax Breakdown

Array
Required. The argument can be an array, array formula, or a reference to a range of cells for which you want to find the count of columns.

Usage Notes

COLUMNS returns the count of columns in a range.

Use the COLUMN function to return the number of a specific column.