A beginners guide to Excel array formulas

This article explains the basics of array formulas, read this article if you never have used array formulas before. It opened up a new world to me and I am sure you will find many applications for these kinds of calculations.

1. Why are array formulas so powerful?

They allow you to do things not possible with regular formulas, an array formula can do multiple calculations based on several values simultaneously. You can do some seriously complicated calculations, Excel is definitively a powerful tool.

The array formula example, demonstrated in the image above, performs calculations to multiple numbers simultaneously and returns the smallest number from those calculations.

It multiplies all numbers in column B with all numbers in column D and returns the smallest product of all numbers.

Array formula in cell D9:

Explaining formula in cell D9

Step 1 - Transpose numbers

It is not possible to multiply two vertical arrays containing a different amount of numbers. The TRANSPOSE function converts a vertical array to horizontal and vice versa.

However, if they were of identical size the result would not be what we are looking for anyway, the first number would be multiplied with the first value in the second array only. We want each value multipled with all numbers in the second array to calculate all combinations.

TRANSPOSE(D3:D6)

becomes

TRANSPOSE({1.4;5.2;4.2;0.7})

and returns {1.4,5.2,4.2,0.7}.

Note that the delimiting character is a semicolon in the vertical array and a comma in the horizontal array.

The image above shows the numbers in the second array arranged horizontally.

Step 2 - Multiply numbers

B3:B7*TRANSPOSE(D3:D6)

becomes

B3:B7*{1.4,5.2,4.2,0.7}

becomes

{4;3;6;0.5;5}*{1.4,5.2,4.2,0.7}

and returns {5.6,20.8,16.8,2.8;4.2,15.6,12.6,2.1;8.4,31.2,25.2,4.2;0.7,2.6,2.1,0.35;7,26,21,3.5}.

The result is shown in cell range H3:K7 in the image above. Cell H3 shows the product of the numbers in cell H2 and G3, and so on.

Step 3 - Extract the smallest number in the array

The MIN function returns the smallest number from a cell range or an array.

MIN(B3:B7*TRANSPOSE(D3:D6))

becomes

MIN({5.6,20.8,16.8,2.8;4.2,15.6,12.6,2.1;8.4,31.2,25.2,4.2;0.7,2.6,2.1,0.35;7,26,21,3.5})

and returns 0.35 which is the smallest number in the array.

The image below shows the result in cell D9, all these calculations were completed in one cell only.

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2. How to identify array formulas?

The formula bar is above your worksheet, it may be empty or contain a value or a formula. The image above demonstrates an array formula in cell D9.

The formula bar shows what kind of formula the selected cell contains. An array formula begins with a curly bracket and ends with a curly bracket.

These curly brackets appear automatically if you enter the formula as an array formula, see next section below on how to do that.

3. How to enter an array formula?

Constructing an array in Excel is easy. Double press with left mouse button on cell A1 and type ={1,2,3} in the formula bar and hold and press CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously, then press Enter once. Release all keys.

The formula in the formula bar now shows a beginning and ending curly bracket. Don't enter those characters yourself. Make sure the formula bar looks like this: {={1,2,3}}

If your formula bar looks like the picture above then you have made your first array! If not try again.

={1,2,3} is an array of constants separated by a delimiting character. This formula is entered in cell A1 but only one value in the array is displayed, why is that? The next section below explains why this happens.

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4. Why is only one value shown? I have x values in the array?

There can only be one value in each cell. To be able to see all values enter the formula in cell range A1:C1

1. Select cell range A1:C1
2. Press with left mouse button on in the formula bar
3. Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously
4. Press Enter
5. Release all keys

The animated picture above shows you how to extend an array formula from cell A1 to A1:C1, this allows you to see all values in the array.

You have now extended the formula to three cells and all values in the array are visible on the sheet, see picture above.

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5. What are vertical and horizontal arrays?

You can construct arrays with a comma delimiter and a semicolon delimiter.

What is the difference? Use the comma when you want values horizontally and semicolon vertically. Look at the formula bar in this animated picture:

You can also combine colons and semicolons. ={1,2;3,4} A comma tells excel that the next value is to the right of the first value. A semicolon puts the next value on the next row.

I try to enter an array with text values but it doesn't work, why? Use double quotes around your values, like this: ={"A","B"}

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6. How to use cell references in array formulas

All arrays presented above contain constants, meaning they don't change unless you edit them. This formula =A1:A10 contains a cell reference to A1:A10. The values in this formula change if you change a value in cell range A1:A10. Formula =A1:A10 does not contain any constants.

This means that you can use values on your sheet in your array formula. This is extremely useful.

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7. How to quickly build an array

I want to construct an array from 1 to 1000? I don't want to enter all these values.
You don't have to, the ROW function can do that for you. =ROW(1:1000) creates an array from 1 to 1000.

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8. How to hard code (literal) values in array formulas?

Can I hard code values from 1 to 1000 in a formula without entering them myself? Yes, you can. Type =ROW(1:1000) in the formula bar and press F9.

Excel converts =ROW(1:1000) to ={1,2,3, ... , 1000)

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9. Is Ctrl + Shift + Enter always necessary?

Can I build an array formula without entering it as an array formula?
Yes, you often can. However, it makes the formula more complicated.
Read this post:  No more array formulas?

Excel 365 users enter array formulas as regular formulas, I recommend upgrading to Excel 365. There are so many new things in Excel 365.

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10. Can I enter an array formula in merged cells?

Excel tells me "Array formulas are not valid in merged cells", how can I enter array formulas in merged cells?
Yes, you can enter array formulas in merged cells using a workaround: How to enter array formulas in merged cells however, I recommend that you avoid merged cells as much as possible.

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11. Are there any exceptions?

Yes, both the SUMPRODUCT function and the LOOKUP function lets you build arrays without requiring you to enter them as an array formula.

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The INDEX function lets you encapsulate an array so you don't need to enter it as an array formula:

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12. Any caveats using array formulas?

A major disadvantage with array formulas is that if you double press with left mouse button on a cell containing an array formula and then press with left mouse button on another cell, the array formula changes to a regular formula. Beginner Excel users may not know about this and could possibly break your worksheet calculations.

However, this is not the case if you press the Escape key to exit editing an array formula or if you press CTRL + SHIFT + Enter.

Array formulas can slow down your worksheet calculations.

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13. Alright, show me some useful array formulas?

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Cool, even more complicated calculations?

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14. Excel 365 dynamic array formulas

You can enter array formulas in Excel 365, however, there is no need to do that. Microsoft has now changed how array formulas are entered, they are entered as a regular formula and are now called dynamic array formulas.

Excel 365 shows all values that the array formula returns automatically if the array formula returns more than one value, this behavior is called spilling.

The image above shows a dynamic array formula in cell H3 that returns multiple values and spills those values to cells below. The FILTER function is a new function only available for Excel 365 users.

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16. How to enter array formulas in merged cells

Have you ever tried to enter an array formula in merged cells? Then you are familiar with this error message: Array formulas are not valid in merged cells.

This is not true, they can be entered in merged cells.

Here are a few suggestions to solve this problem.

16.1 Unmerge cells

1. Select the merged cell.
2. Go to tab "Home" on the ribbon.
3. Press with left mouse button on the "Merge & Center" button to unmerge cells.
4. Select the first cell of the unmerged cell.
5. Enter the array formula.
6. Select the cells you want to merge.
7. Press with left mouse button on the "Merge & Center" button to merge cells.

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16.2 Excel defined named ranges

This workaround requires you to create a named range containing the array formula you want to use. Here are the steps.

1. Go to tab "Formula" on the ribbon.
2. Press with left mouse button on "Name Manager".
3. Type a name, I named it arrayformula.
4. Enter the array formula in "Refers to:" field.
   
5. Press with left mouse button on OK button.
6. Select the merged cell.
7. Type =arrayformula
8. Press enter.

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16.3 Excel 365 dynamic array formulas and merged cells?

The image above shows what happens when you try to enter a dynamic array formula in a merged cell in Excel 365.

Merged cells don't work with Excel 365 dynamic array formulas, the #SPILL error is what you get if you try to enter the formula in a merged cell or if a merged cell is in the spilling range.

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17. How to use absolute and relative references

What is a reference in Excel? Excel has an A1 reference style meaning columns are named letters A to XFD and rows have numbers, 1 to 1 048 576.  The total number of columns in Excel 2007 are 16384.

A cell can contain a value, formula or constants. A formula starts with a = (equal) sign. You can use values from other cells in your formula. To use another value you create a reference to the cell containing the value you want to use in your formula.

A formula starts with a "=" equal sign. A reference is a column letter and a row number, like B1. B is the column B and 1 is row number one.

Example:

1. Double press with left mouse button on cell A1 and type =B1 then press Enter
2. Double press with left mouse button on cell B1 and type 11 then press Enter

You have now created a reference to cell B1. B1 contains the value 11. A1 contains the reference to B1 so both cells now show the number 11. Excel uses relative references by default. =B1 is a relative reference.

17.1 What is a relative reference in excel?

When you copy a cell containing a relative reference and paste it into another cell, the relative reference changes. Let me show you an example.

Now copy cell A1 and paste it to cell A3.

1. Press with right mouse button on on cell A1 and press with left mouse button on Copy
2. Press with right mouse button on on cell A3 and press with left mouse button on Paste
3. Press Escape to remove selection.

When you copy a formula containing relative references the reference changes when you paste it into a another cell. Select cell A3. The formula window now show =B3. See picture above.

Cell A3 has the value 0 (zero) and the formula field shows the relative reference =B3. Cell B3 is empty and that is why cell A3 displays 0 (zero).

When you copied the cell reference in cell A1 to A3, the relative reference changed to B3. The reference changed two rows down. The exact same number as of rows between the copied cell A1 and cell A3.

How much the reference changes is relative to the position of the copied cell and the position of the new cell the formula is pasted into. Excel uses relative references by default.

17.2 How to change a relative reference to an absolute reference.

1. Double press with left mouse button on A1.
2. Press F4
3. Press Enter

The relative reference =B1 changes to an absolute reference =$B$1.

17.3 What is an absolute reference in excel?

An absolute reference in a formula stays the same if copied to another cell.

Example:

1. Press with right mouse button on cell A1 and press with left mouse button on Copy
2. Press with right mouse button on cell A3 and press with left mouse button on Paste
3. Press Escape to remove selection.

Select cell A3

The cell reference in cell A3 stays the same (is locked to cell B1). An absolute reference does not change when copied or filled into other cells.

17.4 Insert a row or column

Remember, if you insert a row or column into your excel sheet the absolute reference changes.

Example

Cell A1 contains an absolute reference to B1 (=$B$1).

1. Select row 1.
2. Press with right mouse button on on selection and select "Insert".
   
3. Done!

The absolute reference changed to =$B$2.

To keep absolute references use INDIRECT function.

1. Type =INDIRECT("$B$1") + ENTER in cell A1
   
2. Select row 1
3. Press with right mouse button on on row 1 and select "Insert"
4. Done!

The absolute reference is still referencing $B$1. $B$1 is empty and $B$1 returns a 0 (zero).

There is a downside using INDIRECT. INDIRECT is a volatile function. A volatile function is recalculated every time a recalculation is made. You might think that is alright. But if your excel sheet has many calculations and INDIRECT is often used, the calculation can become very slow.

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