TAKE Function in Microsoft Excel: Syntax, Examples & Compatibility
Learn how to return a specified number of rows or columns from either end of an array in Microsoft Excel. Includes syntax, two verified-by-reasoning results, troubleshooting and portability notes.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in Microsoft Excel. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: return a specified number of rows or columns from either end of an array in Microsoft Excel. The reproducible examples below use explicit values so the formula’s meaning is testable without a large workbook.
Evidence: The function name and syntax are documented in the linked vendor function reference. Expected outputs were independently reasoned or checked outside the application. These are not native Microsoft Excel test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.
Syntax and arguments
=TAKE(array, rows, [columns])
Positive row counts start at the beginning; negative counts take from the end. The columns argument is optional.
Best use case: Return a specified number of rows or columns from either end of an array.
Set up the example sheet
Enter these item labels in A2:A5: Pen, Pad, Tape, Box. Keep an empty output range with enough room for the result.
Enter the formula in an unused cell. For a formula returning several values, leave an unobstructed area where those values can expand. These formulas use comma argument separators in a typical English-language locale; commas or semicolons inside quoted text are data, not argument separators. Adapt the separator if your regional settings require it.
Worked example 1: TAKE with known input
=TAKE(A2:A5,2)
Expected output: Pen, Pad in two vertical cells.
The first two source records are selected.
Worked example 2: a second TAKE case
=TAKE(A2:A5,-1)
Expected output: Box.
The negative row count selects one row from the bottom of the source array.
Compare both results before replacing literal values or short sample ranges with your own workbook data. For a spilling formula, compare every output cell, not only the top-left result.
Practical advice and troubleshooting
When this formula helps: TAKE is useful for previews and top/bottom selections after SORTBY; it does not alter the source table.
Important edge case: TAKE does not calculate the largest values on its own. Sort first if you want the top performers rather than the first rows.
If the result differs, first verify the text-versus-number types of the input cells, the argument separators for your locale, and the range size. For dynamic arrays, inspect occupied cells in the output area. An error that looks like a missing function may reflect a software version rather than incorrect data.
Compatibility and version considerations
Google Sheets has SORTN and CHOOSEROWS, but no TAKE entry in its current function catalogue. Those are alternatives, not argument-compatible replacements.
TAKE is documented for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024.
Function availability and parameter behavior must be judged for the specific application and release; a function documented in one spreadsheet does not automatically work in another.
Related guides and official documentation
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Microsoft Excel documentation for TAKE — function syntax and current vendor information.
Editorial verification: Vendor catalogue referenced as of 2026-10-12. The two example outputs are independently reasoned; no native application run, screenshot, or version-specific output is claimed. Review the editorial testing standards if you require stronger proof before importing a workbook.