Summary

The Excel SHEET function returns the index number of a sheet in Excel. SHEET will report the sheet number for a cell reference, named range, or Excel Table.

Purpose 

Get sheet index number

Return value 

The index number of a given sheet

Syntax

=SHEET([value])
  • value - [optional] The value to check.

How to use 

The SHEET function returns the index number of a sheet in Excel. You can use the SHEET function to get a numeric index that represents the order of sheets in an Excel workbook, starting with 1 on the left and ending with N on the right, where N is the total number of sheets in the workbook. The SHEET function includes hidden sheets in the numbering sequence.

The SHEET function takes one argument, value, which should be a reference, a named range, or an Excel Table. Value is optional. When value is omitted, SHEET will return a numeric index for the current sheet (i.e. the sheet the formula exists in).

Examples

For example, in a workbook with Sheet1, Sheet2, and Sheet3 running left to right:

=SHEET(Sheet1!A1) // returns 1
=SHEET(Sheet2!A1) // returns 2
=SHEET(Sheet3!A1) // returns 3

If Sheet2 is dragged all the way to the left, a reference to A1 on Sheet2 will return 1:

=SHEET(Sheet2!A1) // returns 1

SHEET can report the sheet number for a cell reference, named range, or Excel Table. For example, if a table called "Table1" exists on the third sheet in a workbook the SHEET function will return 3:

=SHEET(Table1) // returns 3

Notes

  • If the value argument is omitted, SHEET will return the index of the current sheet.
  • SHEET includes hidden sheets in the numbering sequence.
  • SHEET reports the index of a sheet. The SHEETS function reports the number of sheets.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.