The last column in excel

In this article, we will learn to return the Last column of data in Excel.

Scenario:

In simple words, while working with long unmannerly data, and then if needed to extract the column number of the last cell from range. We can use the below explained formula in Excel and can use the same in formulas to feed the row value. The formula considers all kinds of data types and blank cells in between range arrays.

For this article we will be needing the use the following functions:

1. MIN function
2. COLUMN function
3. COLUMNS function

Now we will make a formula out of these functions. Here we will give a list of values as data. We need to find the column of the last cell value in the given input data or say the last non-blank cell in the range.

Syntax:

data : list of values having data.

Example:

All of these might be confusing to understand. So, let’s test this formula via running it on the example shown below. Here we will perform the formula over values and significance with the range data.

Use the formula:

«range» argument given as named range for the array A1:AA4 in the above formula

Explanation:

• COLUMN function returns a range of values from the first cell column index to the last cell column index.
• COLUMNS function returns the number of columns in the range.
• MIN(COLUMN(range)) returns the lowest count of cells in the column in range. 
• =MIN(COLUMN(range))+COLUMNS(range)-1 returns the last column number from the last cell.

Here the array to the function is given as the named range. Press Enter to get the last column number as result.

As you can see in the above snapshot the column number of the last non blank cell is 27. You can feed the result with other functions to extract different results.

Value from the last non blank cell.

Use the INDEX function to get the value from the last column of data.

Use the formula:

As you can see from the above formula you can get the date value from the last column as well.

Here are some observational notes using the above formula.

Notes:

1. The formula returns the last column index as a result.
2. The formula returns a number and can be fed to other functions as number argument.
3. Named range in the formula be used with correct keywords.

Hope this article about How to Find the Last column of data in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on reference formulas here. If you liked our blogs, share it with your fristarts on Facebook. And also you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We would love to hear from you, do let us know how we can improve, complement or innovate our work and make it better for you. Write to us at info@exceltip.com.

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To find the last row, column, or cell you can use the range’s “End” property. The end property allows you to navigate to the end of the data range (to the last cell that is not empty). With this, there are constants that you can use to decide in which direction you want to navigate (top, bottom, left, or right).

1. Define the cell or the range from where you want to navigate to the last row.
2. After that, enter a dot to get the list of properties and methods.
3. Select or type “End” and enter a starting parenthese.
4. Use the argument that you want to use.
5. Further, use the address property to get the address of the cell.

MsgBox Range("A1").End(xlDown).Address

When you run the above code, it shows you a message box with the row number of the last non-empty cell.

Find the Last Column using VBA

Now, let’s say you want to find the last column. In that case, instead of using “xlDown” constant, you need to use the “xlRight”, and if you want to select that cell instead of having the address then you can use the “select” method. Consider the following method.

Range("A1").End(xlToRight).Select

Find the Last Cell

By using the same method, you can also get the last cell which is a non-empty cell. To write this code, you need to know the last row and column.

Sub vba_last_row()

  Dim lRow As Long
  Dim lColumn As Long

  lRow = Range("A1").End(xlDown).Row
  lColumn = Range("A1").End(xlToRight).Column

  Cells(lRow, lColumn).Select

End Sub

To understand the above code, we need to split it into three parts.

1. In the FIRST part, you have declared two variables to store the row and the column number.
2. In the SECOND part, you have used “End” with the “xlDown” and then the Row property to get the row number of the last, and in the same way, you have used the “End” with the “xlToRight” and then the “Column” property to get the column number of the last column.
3. In the THIRD part, by using the last column number and last row number refer to the last cell and select it.

Note: If you want to select a cell in the different worksheets using the last row and last column method, you need to have that worksheet activated first.

Last Row, Column, and Cell using the Find Method

You can also use the find method with the range object to get the worksheet’s last row, column, and cell. To know the row number, here is the code:

Sub vba_last_row()

Dim iRow As Long

iRow = Cells.Find(What:="*", _
                    After:=Range("A1"), _
                    LookAt:=xlPart, _
                    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
                    SearchOrder:=xlByRows, _
                    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
                    MatchCase:=False).Row

MsgBox iRow

End Sub

For column number:

Sub vba_last_row()

Dim iColumn As Long

iColumn = Cells.Find(What:="*", _
                    After:=Range("A1"), _
                    LookAt:=xlPart, _
                    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
                    SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, _
                    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
                    MatchCase:=False).Column

MsgBox iColumn

End Sub

To get the cell address of the last cell.

Sub vba_last_row()

Dim iColumn As Long
Dim iRow As Long

iColumn = Cells.Find(What:="*", _
                    After:=Range("A1"), _
                    LookAt:=xlPart, _
                    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
                    SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, _
                    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
                    MatchCase:=False).Column                  

iRow = Cells.Find(What:="*", _
                    After:=Range("A1"), _
                    LookAt:=xlPart, _
                    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
                    SearchOrder:=xlByRows, _
                    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
                    MatchCase:=False).Row                   

Cells(iRow, iColumn).Address

End Sub