Excel Column Letter ⇔ Number Converter
Convert Excel and spreadsheet column letters to column numbers and back (A = 1, AZ = 52, XFD = 16384). You can also split an A1-style reference such as $B$3 into its column and row, or get the column, row and cell counts of a range such as A1:C10. Input is case-insensitive. For other number bases, try the Base Converter.
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Column letter and number
Split a cell reference or range
Enter a cell reference such as "B3" or "$B$3", or a range such as "A1:C10".
Common columns
| Letters | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | First column |
| Z | 26 | Last single-letter column |
| AA | 27 | First two-letter column |
| AZ | 52 | |
| BA | 53 | |
| IV | 256 | Last column in old Excel (.xls) |
| IW | 257 | |
| ZZ | 702 | Last two-letter column |
| AAA | 703 | First three-letter column |
| XFD | 16384 | Last column in current Excel (.xlsx) |
Notes
- An Excel (.xlsx) sheet has 16,384 columns (A to XFD) and 1,048,576 rows. Values outside that range are rejected.
- Google Sheets has different default limits (up to column ZZZ = 18,278). This tool follows the Excel limits.
- Reversed ranges such as C10:A1 are fine; the column, row and cell counts are still correct.
Glossary
A1 notation
Naming a cell by column letters followed by a row number (B3 is column 2, row 3). R1C1 notation, by contrast, uses numbers for both.
Absolute and relative references
A column or row prefixed with $ stays fixed when a formula is copied ($B$3 fixes both). Without $, the reference shifts with the destination.
Not plain base 26
Column letters count like base 26 with no zero digit (Z is followed by AA), so the result differs from an ordinary base-26 conversion.
FAQ
What is the last column in Excel?
Current Excel (.xlsx) ends at column XFD, which is column 16,384. The old .xls format stopped at IV (column 256). This tool uses XFD as the upper limit and reports anything beyond it as an error.
How is a column letter different from an ordinary base-26 number?
Column letters have no digit for zero: Z (26) is followed by AA (27). A plain base-26 conversion with A=0 gets values like Z and AZ wrong. This tool follows the way Excel counts.
Can it split absolute references such as $B$3?
Yes. The $ signs are not discarded; the tool shows separately whether the column and the row are absolute. Mixed references like $B3 and B$3 work too.
How are the column and cell counts of a range calculated?
For A1:C10 there are 3 columns and 10 rows, so 3 x 10 = 30 cells. A reversed range such as C10:A1 gives the same result.
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