COLUMNS Function (LibreOffice Calc)

• Introduced: Documented by LibreOffice 26.8.1.1; original introduction not established.
• Availability: Supported in LibreOffice 26.8.1.1, verified against its function registry. This identifies a supported release, not a final working version.
• Scope: Desktop Calc, using the English function name. Availability in other spreadsheet applications is separate.
• Checked: 2026-10-14 — function reference; versioned support. Documentation/source check; not a new native test. Existing example-specific test claims below retain their stated scope.

• Counts the number of columns in a range or array
• Works with static ranges and dynamic arrays
• Useful for INDEX/MATCH, OFFSET, and array‑driven formulas
• Helps build scalable, correction‑proof spreadsheet logic

COLUMNS(reference)

Arguments

• reference:
  A range or array whose number of columns will be counted.

Count columns in a range

=COLUMNS(A1:D10)
→ 4

Count columns in a single column

=COLUMNS(B1:B100)
→ 1

Using a dynamic array

=COLUMNS(FILTER(A1:D100; A1:A100>0))

Using an array literal

=COLUMNS({1,2,3})
→ 3

Dynamic INDEX selection

=INDEX(A1:Z1; COLUMNS(A1:D1))
→ returns the last column in A1:D1

Create a dynamic header count

="Total Columns: " & COLUMNS(A1:Z1)

Combine with OFFSET for scalable ranges

=SUM(OFFSET(A1; 0; 0; 1; COLUMNS(A1:D1)))

Use with MATCH to validate lookup ranges

=IF(MATCH("Price"; A1:D1; 0) <= COLUMNS(A1:D1); "OK"; "Out of Range")

Generate a dynamic sequence of column numbers

=COLUMN(A1:INDEX(1:1; COLUMNS(A1:D1)))

Use with CHOOSECOLS for dynamic extraction

=CHOOSECOLS(A1:Z10; SEQUENCE(1; COLUMNS(A1:D1)))

COLUMNS returns:

• A single integer
• Always ≥ 1 for valid ranges

Behavior details

• Works with ranges, arrays, and array formulas
• Does not count rows
• Does not evaluate content, only structure
• Errors inside the range do not affect the result
• Invalid references propagate errors

Invalid reference → Err:502

• Use COLUMNS to build scalable, correction‑proof formulas
• Combine with INDEX for dynamic column selection
• Use with OFFSET for dynamic range sizing
• Use with MATCH to validate lookup ranges
• Pair with COLUMN for array‑driven logic

• COLUMN — returns the column index of a reference
• ROWS / ROW — row equivalents
• INDEX — extract values by row/column
• MATCH — find column positions
• OFFSET — dynamic range shifting
• CHOOSECOLS — extract specific columns

By mastering COLUMNS, you can build robust, scalable, and dynamic spreadsheet logic in LibreOffice Calc.

This standalone example was calculated in LibreOffice Calc 25.2.3.2 and matched the expected value. It is a practical cross-check of one usage, not proof that every example elsewhere on this page is correct.

Use this small practice sheet for the ranges referenced in the formula:

=COLUMNS(A1:C5)

Expected result: 3.

Count the number of columns in a selected range.

If the result differs, check the referenced cells, argument separators and number formatting. For more information, consult the LibreOffice Calc official help.