What is the syntax for CHOOSECOLS in Excel?

The syntax for CHOOSECOLS is: =CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], ...)

What are common errors with CHOOSECOLS?

Requires Excel 365. Negative numbers count from end

What is CHOOSECOLS in Excel?

CHOOSECOLS extracts specific columns from an array by column number. It's perfect for selecting non-adjacent columns or reordering columns: =CHOOSECOLS(A1:E100, 1, 3, 5) returns columns 1, 3, and 5 only.

How do I reorder columns with CHOOSECOLS?

List columns in your desired order: =CHOOSECOLS(A1:D10, 3, 1, 4, 2) rearranges columns to C, A, D, B order. Great for reformatting data exports or preparing data for other systems.

Can I exclude specific columns with CHOOSECOLS?

CHOOSECOLS selects columns to include, not exclude. To exclude column 2 from 4 columns, use =CHOOSECOLS(data, 1, 3, 4). For dynamic exclusion, combine with SEQUENCE and FILTER.

Lookup & Reference

CHOOSECOLS Function in Excel

Returns the specified columns from an array.

Syntax

=CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], ...)

Arguments

array (required): Array to select from
col_num1 (required): First column number to return
col_num2 (optional): Additional column numbers

Examples

=CHOOSECOLS(A1:D10, 1, 4) - Get columns 1 and 4 - Result: 2 columns
=CHOOSECOLS(A1:D10, 4, 3, 2, 1) - Reverse column order - Result: 4 columns reversed

When to use CHOOSECOLS

Use CHOOSECOLS when you need to retrieve values from a table or range based on a key.
Confirm data types match (text vs number) and trim spaces before lookups.
Pair with [IFERROR](/functions/iferror/) or [IFNA](/functions/ifna/) for cleaner reports.
See the [lookup functions guide](/guides/excel-lookup-functions-guide/) for VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, and INDEX MATCH paths.

Common CHOOSECOLS mistakes

#N/A often means the key is missing or exact match is wrong — see [#N/A error](/errors/na/).
Lock table references with $ when copying formulas down a column.
Compare legacy vs modern lookups in [XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP](/compare/xlookup-vs-vlookup/).

Common errors

Requires Excel 365
Negative numbers count from end

Use cases

Select specific columns
Reorder columns
Extract fields

Frequently asked questions

What is CHOOSECOLS in Excel? CHOOSECOLS extracts specific columns from an array by column number. It's perfect for selecting non-adjacent columns or reordering columns: =CHOOSECOLS(A1:E100, 1, 3, 5) returns columns 1, 3, and 5 only.
How do I reorder columns with CHOOSECOLS? List columns in your desired order: =CHOOSECOLS(A1:D10, 3, 1, 4, 2) rearranges columns to C, A, D, B order. Great for reformatting data exports or preparing data for other systems.
Can I exclude specific columns with CHOOSECOLS? CHOOSECOLS selects columns to include, not exclude. To exclude column 2 from 4 columns, use =CHOOSECOLS(data, 1, 3, 4). For dynamic exclusion, combine with SEQUENCE and FILTER.

Editorial review

Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.