Generating Numbers With SEQUENCE

Sometimes you need a list of consecutive numbers, 1 through 10, or a row of dates, or a numbered grid. Typing them by hand is slow and breaks when the count changes.

The SEQUENCE function generates a list of numbers in one formula and spills them into the cells around it. Change the count and the list resizes instantly.

SEQUENCE takes up to four arguments:

• rows how many rows of numbers to generate
• columns how many columns (default 1)
• start the first number (default 1)
• step how much to increase each time (default 1)

Only rows is required. Everything else has a sensible default.

The most common use is a vertical list of counting numbers. Ask for 5 rows and SEQUENCE spills 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 down the column.

This is perfect for row numbers, line items, or any place you need an automatic counter that grows when you change the argument.

The third argument sets where the list begins. To start at 100 and count up, set start to 100.

Remember the second argument (columns) comes before start, so include a 1 for a single column. This gives 100, 101, 102, and so on.

The fourth argument, step, controls the gap between numbers. Use 10 to count by tens, or a negative number to count down.

This formula produces 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, a handy axis or interval list.

A negative step counts down. To list 10 down to 1, start at 10 and step by -1.

Negative steps are great for countdowns, reverse rankings, or building descending axes without typing each value.

Add a column count to make a two-dimensional block. SEQUENCE fills left to right, then moves to the next row.

This formula makes a 3-row, 4-column grid numbered 1 through 12, useful for layouts, calendars, or matrix exercises.

Dates are stored as numbers, so SEQUENCE can build a date series. Start from a date cell and step by 1 day.

If A1 holds a start date, this spills 14 consecutive daily dates. Format the cells as dates and you have an instant two-week calendar column.

SEQUENCE is powerful as an input to other functions. Combine it with DATE to make the first day of each month for a year.

Here SEQUENCE(12,1,1,1) produces month numbers 1 to 12, and DATE turns each into the first of that month in 2026.

Google Sheets includes SEQUENCE with the same four arguments and the same defaults, so formulas transfer cleanly between Excel and Sheets.

As with all spill functions, SEQUENCE needs empty cells to expand into. A blocked range gives an error in both apps.

Because SEQUENCE can produce hundreds of cells, make sure there is room. A SEQUENCE(100) with anything in its path throws a #SPILL! error.

Place the formula where the output can expand freely, and clear stray values blocking the rows or columns it needs.

You want a single column that starts at 5 and counts up by 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. Which formula produces this?

SEQUENCE builds lists and grids of numbers from one formula:

• =SEQUENCE(rows, columns, start, step)
• Only rows is required; columns, start, and step default to 1
• Use a negative step to count down, a larger step to count by intervals
• Feed it into DATE or other functions to generate date series and more

It spills, so leave room for the output to expand.