Count Rows in Excel: Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts
Are you tired of manually counting rows in your Excel spreadsheet? Do you want to save time and increase your productivity? Then you have come to the right place! In this article, we will explore various methods of counting rows in Excel, from the basic to the advanced, including tips, tricks, and shortcuts. So, let’s get started!
Understanding Rows in Excel
Before we dive into the methods of counting rows in Excel, let’s first understand what rows are in Excel. A row is a horizontal line of cells in an Excel spreadsheet. Each row is identified by a number on the left-hand side of the spreadsheet, starting with 1 for the first row.
Method 1: Using the Status Bar
The simplest and most basic way of counting rows in Excel is by using the status bar. The status bar is located at the bottom of the Excel window and displays various information about the active sheet, including the count of selected cells. To count the number of rows in your Excel spreadsheet using the status bar, follow these steps:
- Click and drag to select all the rows in your spreadsheet.
- Look at the status bar, which should display the count of selected cells, including the number of rows.

Count Rows in Excel
Method 2: Using the COUNTA Function
Another basic method of counting Excel rows is using the COUNTA function. The COUNTA function counts the number of non-empty cells in a range of cells. To use the COUNTA function to count rows in your Excel spreadsheet, follow these steps:
- Click on an empty cell where you want to display the row count.
- Type the following formula: =COUNTA(A:A)
- Press Enter to calculate the row count.
Method 3: Using the ROW Function
The ROW function in Excel returns the row number of a cell. By combining the ROW function with other functions, we can count the number of rows in a spreadsheet. To count the number of rows in your Excel spreadsheet using the ROW function, follow these steps:
- Click on an empty cell where you want to display the row count.
- Type the following formula: =ROW(A1048576)
- Press Enter to calculate the row count.
Method 4: Using the Excel Table
If you have converted your data range into an Excel table, you can easily count the number of rows in the table using the Table Tools Design tab. To count the number of rows in an Excel table, follow these steps:
- Click anywhere inside the Excel table to activate the Table Tools Design tab.
- Look at the Properties group, which should display the row count.
Method 5: Using the Go To Special Command
The Go To Special command in Excel allows you to select specific types of cells, such as blank cells, non-blank cells, or cells with formulas. By selecting only the cells in a specific row, we can count the number of rows in a spreadsheet. To count the number of rows in your Excel spreadsheet using the Go To Special command, follow these steps:
- Click on any cell in the first row of your spreadsheet.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + End to select all cells in the spreadsheet.
- Press F5 to open the Go To dialog box.
- Click on the Special button to open the Go To Special dialog box.
- Select the Row differences option and click OK.
- Look at the status bar, which should display the count of selected cells, including the number of rows.
Method 6: Using VBA Code
If you are comfortable with programming in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), you can create a macro to count the number of rows in your Excel spreadsheet. Here is an example of VBA code that counts the number of rows in the active sheet:
Dim LastRow As Long
LastRow = Cells(Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row
MsgBox “The active sheet has ” & LastRow & ” rows.”
End Sub
To use this code, follow these steps:
- Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
- Click on Insert > Module to create a new module.
- Copy and paste the code above into the new module.
- Press F5 or click on the Run button to execute the code.
- A message box will display the number of rows in the active sheet.
Tips and Tricks
- If your Excel spreadsheet has hidden rows or filtered rows, you may need to adjust the methods above to accurately count the number of rows. For example, you may need to unhide or unfilter the rows before selecting or counting them.
- If you need to count the number of rows in multiple sheets or workbooks, you can use the methods above in a loop or create a macro that loops through each sheet or workbook.
- If you want to count the number of rows in a specific range of cells, you can modify the formulas above to reference that range instead of the entire column.
Conclusion
Counting rows in Excel may seem like a simple task, but it can become time-consuming and tedious if you have a large spreadsheet with many rows. By using the methods above, you can save time and increase your productivity, and even automate the task using VBA code. We hope this article has been helpful, and that you can use these tips, tricks, and shortcuts to improve your Excel skills.
FAQs
- Can I count the number of rows in a specific worksheet instead of the entire workbook? Yes, you can modify the methods above to count the number of rows in a specific worksheet by selecting or referencing only that worksheet.
- What is the maximum number of rows in an Excel spreadsheet? The maximum number of rows in an Excel spreadsheet is 1,048,576.
- Can I use the methods above to count the number of columns in an Excel spreadsheet? No, the methods above only count the number of rows in an Excel spreadsheet. To count the number of columns, you can use similar methods that reference columns instead of rows.
- Can I combine multiple methods to count rows in Excel? Yes, you can combine multiple methods to achieve the desired result, depending on the specific requirements of your spreadsheet.
- Can I automate the task of counting rows in Excel using macros or scripts? Yes, you can use VBA code, PowerShell scripts, or other programming languages to automate the task of counting rows in Excel. This can save time and reduce errors, especially for large or complex spreadsheets.
You can read How to Control Charts in Excel: A Comprehensive Guide to learning more about Excel. You can also check the other content.

I am studying at Middle East Technical University. I am interested in computer science, architecture, physics and philosophy.
Love,
Cansu