The SEQUENCE function in Excel
SEQUENCE generates numbers for you: 1, 2, 3… or any start and step, in a column, a row or a whole grid. The result spills like FILTER.
It is useful for numbering rows, building lists of dates and as input for other functions. It is available in Excel 2021, Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365.
Syntax
=SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])
| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
| rows | How many rows of numbers. |
| columnsoptional | How many columns. Default 1. |
| startoptional | The first number. Default 1. |
| stepoptional | The amount added each time. Default 1. |
Examples
1. Numbers 1 to 3
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Number |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 3 |
One formula fills three cells. Delete the first cell and the whole list goes.
2. A grid of 2 rows and 3 columns
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Numbers fill the grid row by row: 1, 2, 3 on the first row and 4, 5, 6 on the second.
3. Start and step
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Multiples of 5 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 15 |
| 4 | 20 |
Three rows, one column, starting at 10 and adding 5 each time.
Common mistakes
Blocked spill range. If a cell below holds data, Excel shows #SPILL!.
Fix: Clear the cells in the way, or move the formula.
Opening in Excel 2019 or older. The formula shows #NAME?.
Fix: Fill the first numbers by hand with the fill handle instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a list of dates?
Use a date as the start and 1 as the step: =SEQUENCE(7,1,DATE(2026,3,1)), then format the cells as dates.
Related functions
- FILTERFILTER returns the rows of a range that meet a condition, and spills them into the cells below.
- SORTSORT returns a sorted copy of a range that updates when the data changes, ascending or descending, by any column.
- UNIQUEUNIQUE returns each value of a list once, removing duplicates with a formula that updates by itself.