What is the syntax for CHOOSEROWS in Excel?

The syntax for CHOOSEROWS is: =CHOOSEROWS(array, row_num1, [row_num2], ...)

What are common errors with CHOOSEROWS?

Requires Excel 365. Negative numbers count from end

What is CHOOSEROWS in Excel?

CHOOSEROWS extracts specific rows from an array by row number. Unlike TAKE which gets consecutive rows, CHOOSEROWS can pick any rows in any order: =CHOOSEROWS(A1:D100, 5, 10, 15) returns rows 5, 10, and 15.

How do I get the last row with CHOOSEROWS?

Use negative numbers to count from the end: =CHOOSEROWS(A1:D100, -1) returns the last row, -2 returns second-to-last. Combine: =CHOOSEROWS(data, 1, -1) returns first and last rows together.

Can I use CHOOSEROWS to reverse row order?

Yes! Use =CHOOSEROWS(A1:A10, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10) or combine with SEQUENCE: =CHOOSEROWS(data, SEQUENCE(ROWS(data),,-1,-1)) to dynamically reverse any array.

Lookup & Reference

CHOOSEROWS Function in Excel

Returns the specified rows from an array.

Syntax

=CHOOSEROWS(array, row_num1, [row_num2], ...)

Arguments

array (required): Array to select from
row_num1 (required): First row number to return
row_num2 (optional): Additional row numbers

Examples

=CHOOSEROWS(A1:D10, 1, 5, 10) - Get rows 1, 5, and 10 - Result: 3 rows
=CHOOSEROWS(A1:D10, -1) - Get last row - Result: 1 row

When to use CHOOSEROWS

Use CHOOSEROWS 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 CHOOSEROWS 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 rows
Reorder rows
Extract records

Frequently asked questions

What is CHOOSEROWS in Excel? CHOOSEROWS extracts specific rows from an array by row number. Unlike TAKE which gets consecutive rows, CHOOSEROWS can pick any rows in any order: =CHOOSEROWS(A1:D100, 5, 10, 15) returns rows 5, 10, and 15.
How do I get the last row with CHOOSEROWS? Use negative numbers to count from the end: =CHOOSEROWS(A1:D100, -1) returns the last row, -2 returns second-to-last. Combine: =CHOOSEROWS(data, 1, -1) returns first and last rows together.
Can I use CHOOSEROWS to reverse row order? Yes! Use =CHOOSEROWS(A1:A10, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10) or combine with SEQUENCE: =CHOOSEROWS(data, SEQUENCE(ROWS(data),,-1,-1)) to dynamically reverse any array.

Editorial review

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