To find the cell address of a value in Excel, use ADDRESS and MATCH combinations, array formulas, or CELL functions. 1. For single column or single row search, use =ADDRESS(MATCH("value", column range, 0), column number). 2. Find the first match for the two-dimensional range, use the array formula = ADDRESS(MAX(IF(range="value", ROW(range))), MAX(IF(range="value", COLUMN(range)))). 3. Use CELL to combine with INDEX and MATCH, such as =CELL("address", INDEX(column range, MATCH("value", column range, 0))). Note: All the above methods return the first match address. If you need to find all matches, you need to use auxiliary columns or VBA implementation.

Finding the cell address of a value in Excel isn't something most casual users do every day, but it's a handy skill if you're working with large datasets or debugging formulas. Excel doesn't have a built-in function that directly returns a cell address based on its value, but with a combination of functions like MATCH , INDEX , and ADDRESS , you can get the job done.

Use the ADDRESS and MATCH combination

If you're looking for the cell address of a specific value in a single column or row, combining ADDRESS with MATCH is a straightforward way to go.

For example, let's say you want to find where the value "Apple" appears in column A. You can use this formula:

 =ADDRESS(MATCH("Apple", A:A, 0), 1)

Here's what's happening:

• MATCH("Apple", A:A, 0) finds the row number where "Apple" appears.
• ADDRESS(row_num, column_num) takes that row number and the column number (1 in this case for column A) and returns the address like $A$5 .

If you're searching in a different column, just adjust the column number in the ADDRESS function.

Find the first match in a 2D range

If your data spans multiple rows and columns, and you need to find the first occurrence of a value, you'll need a slightly more advanced formula using MATCH , INDEX , and ADDRESS .

Let's say your data is in the range A1:D10 , and you're looking for the first instance of "Apple".

Try this formula:

 =ADDRESS(MAX(IF(A1:D10="Apple", ROW(A1:D10))), MAX(IF(A1:D10="Apple", COLUMN(A1:D10))))

This is an array formula, so in older versions of Excel, you need to press Ctrl Shift Enter instead of just Enter. In Excel 365 or 2021, it should work normally.

What this does:

• The IF checks every cell in the range for "Apple".
• ROW and COLUMN collect the row and column numbers where the match occurs.
• MAX pulls the matching row and column (in case of multiple matches, it gets the last one — but in a first-match scenario, it works if you're only expecting one match).
• ADDRESS then turns those numbers into a proper cell reference.

Use CELL function with INDEX and MATCH

Another approach involves the CELL function, which can return information about a cell's location. You can combine it with INDEX and MATCH for a more readable formula.

Here's how to find the address of "Apple" in column A:

 =CELL("address", INDEX(A:A, MATCH("Apple", A:A, 0))

This gives you the full address like $A$5 . The INDEX function creates a reference to the cell containing "Apple", and CELL("address", ...) returns its address.

This is a clean and readable method, especially useful if you're already comfortable with INDEX and MATCH .

Watch out for multiple matches

One thing to keep in mind: these methods typically return the first match. If your value appears more than once and you need all addresses, you'll need a different approach — possibly involving helper columns or VBA.

• If you're OK with just the first match, the formulas above work great.
• If you need all matches, you might consider:
  • Adding a helper column that flags each match.
  • Using Power Query or VBA to loop through the data and collect all addresses.

Also, make sure your lookup value exists in the range. If not, these formulas will return errors like #N/A .

Depending on your data and how many times the value appears, any of these methods can work. The most common use case — finding the first match in a column — is easily handled by the ADDRESS MATCH combo. If you're working across a table or matrix, the array formula approach will do the trick.

Basically these methods are just the ones, which are not complicated but can indeed solve practical problems.

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