Syntax
DROP(array, rows, [columns])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| array | Parameter of the DROP function. |
| rows | Parameter of the DROP function. |
| [columns] | (Optional.) Parameter of the DROP function. |
Examples
Skip the header row
Formula
=DROP(A1:D100, 1)
Returns rows 2-100 of the table, dropping the first row (header). All columns are preserved.
Remove last 2 rows (total rows)
Formula
=DROP(A1:D100, -2)
Returns rows 1-98, dropping the last 2 rows. Useful for removing summary/total rows from data before further analysis.
Drop first column and header
Formula
=DROP(A1:F50, 1, 1)
Removes the first row and first column, returning the data portion without the row number column or header row.
Common Errors
#CALC!
You tried to drop more rows or columns than exist in the array, leaving nothing.
#VALUE!
The rows or columns argument is not a valid number.
Tips
Pair with TAKE for slicing
DROP(TAKE(data, 10), 5) takes the first 10 rows, then drops the first 5 — giving you rows 6-10. This lets you extract any contiguous slice.
Skip headers for dynamic formulas
When feeding data to SORT, FILTER, or UNIQUE, use DROP(range, 1) to exclude the header row so it doesn't appear in your results.
Negative drops from the end
DROP(data, -3) removes the last 3 rows. This is useful for discarding trailing summary rows or incomplete data at the bottom of a table.
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