INDIRECT

Lookup & referenceExcel 2007volatile

Turn a text string into a cell/range reference.

Syntax

INDIRECT(ref_text, [a1])

How it works

Volatile and not spill-friendly. Handy for referencing another sheet by name from a cell.

Examples

=SUM(INDIRECT("'" & A2 & "'!B:B"))

→ sum column B of the sheet named in A2

Related functions

OFFSET ADDRESS

More Lookup & reference functions

ADDRESS AREAS CHOOSE COLUMN COLUMNS FORMULATEXT GETPIVOTDATA HLOOKUP HYPERLINK INDEX LOOKUP MATCH

← All 510 functions

Syntax follows Microsoft’s documentation. Examples are written to be pasted into a cell and checked. Argument separators may be ; in your locale. The AI explainer runs on a free community model — verify anything important.