DROP Function

The DROP function returns a subset of a given array by "dropping" rows and columns. The number of rows and columns to remove is provided by separate rows and columns arguments. Rows and columns can be dropped from the start or end of the given array. When positive numbers are provided for rows or columns, DROP removes values from the start or top of the array. Negative numbers remove values from the end or bottom of the array.

The DROP function takes three arguments: array, rows, and columns. Array is required, along with at least one value for rows or columns. Array can be a range or an in-memory array from another formula. Rows and columns can be negative or positive. Positive numbers remove values from the start of the array; negative numbers remove values from the end of the array. Both rows and columns default to zero: if no value is supplied, DROP will return all rows/columns in the result.

Basic usage

To use DROP, provide an array or range, and numbers for rows and/or columns:

=DROP(array,3) // drop first 3 rows
=DROP(array,,3) // drop first 3 columns
=DROP(array,3,2) // drop first 3 rows and 2 columns

Notice in the second example above, no value is provided for rows.

Drop from start

To remove rows or columns from the start of a range or array, provide positive numbers for rows and columns. In the worksheet below, the formula in F3 is:

=DROP(B3:D11,6) // drop first 6 rows

The DROP function removes the first 6 rows from B3:D11 and returns the resulting array.

The second formula in F8 is:

=DROP(B3:D11,5,1) // drop first 5 rows and column 1

The DROP function removes the first 5 rows and column 1 from B3:D11 and returns the result.

Notice that if a value for rows or columns is not provided, DROP returns all rows or columns. For example, in the first formula above, a value for columns is not provided and DROP returns all 3 columns as a result. In other words, rows and columns both default to zero.

Drop from end

To remove values from the end of an array, provide negative numbers for rows and columns. In the worksheet below, the formula in cell F3 is:

=DROP(B3:D11,-6)

With a negative 6 for rows, DROP removes the last 6 rows from B3:D11.

The formula in F8 is:

=DROP(B3:D11,-5,-1)

With a negative 5 for rows and a negative 1 for columns, DROP removes the last 5 rows and the last 1 column from B3:D11 and returns the resulting array to cell F8.

Notice in the first example, no value for columns is given and DROP returns all columns as a result.

DROP vs. TAKE

The DROP and TAKE functions both return a subset of an array, but they work in opposite ways. While the DROP function removes specific rows or columns from an array, the TAKE function extracts specific rows or columns from an array:

=DROP(array,1) // remove first row
=TAKE(array,1) // get first row

Which function to use depends on the situation.

Notes

• Rows and columns are both optional, but at least one must be provided.
• If rows or columns is zero, DROP returns all rows/columns.
• If rows > total rows, DROP returns a #VALUE! error
• If columns > total columns, DROP returns a #VALUE! error