how to number cells in google sheets

To number cells (rows) in Google Sheets, you have several effective methods:

1. Using the Fill Handle with a Number Pattern

• Enter the first two numbers of your sequence in adjacent cells (e.g., 1 and 2).
• Select both cells.
• Drag the fill handle (small square at the bottom-right corner of the selection) down the column to fill the cells with an increasing sequence automatically

2. Using the ROW() Function

• Select the cell where you want numbering to start (e.g., A3).
• Enter the formula =ROW()-2 if you want the numbering to start at 1 on row 3 (adjust the number subtracted based on your starting row).
• Press Enter.
• Drag the fill handle down to fill the rest of the cells with sequential numbers.
• This formula returns the row number minus an offset to start at your desired number

3. Using the SEQUENCE() Function

• In the cell where you want numbering to start, enter a formula like =SEQUENCE(number_of_rows, 1, start_number, step).
• For example, =SEQUENCE(10, 1, 1, 1) will number 10 rows starting from 1, incrementing by 1.
• This method is efficient for large datasets and can be combined with COUNTA to number only rows with data

4. Automatically Number Only Non-Blank Rows

• Use an ARRAYFORMULA combined with IF and ISBLANK to number rows only if there is data in another column.
• Example formula: =ARRAYFORMULA(IF(ISBLANK(A:A), "", ROW(A:A)-2)) will number rows where column A is not blank, starting at 1 in row 3

These methods allow you to quickly and dynamically number rows or cells in Google Sheets depending on your needs. The ROW() and SEQUENCE() functions are particularly useful for automatic numbering that adjusts as you add or remove data.