TAKE Function in Excel: First or Last N Rows of a Range

⏱ 1 min readUpdated 28 September 2026

Dynamic ArrayLevel: ExpertAvailable in: Excel 365 / 2021+

In this article
  1. Syntax
  2. Examples
  3. Example 1
  4. Example 2
  5. Related functions

TAKE returns the first (or last, with a negative number) rows or columns of an array — perfect for top-N reports.

Syntax

=TAKE(array, rows, [columns])
Argument What it means
rows Positive = from the top, negative = from the bottom.

Examples

Example 1

=TAKE(SORT(A2:E500, 5, -1), 10)

Top 10 rows by amount.

Example 2

=TAKE(A2:E500, -5)

Last 5 rows — the latest entries.

DROP · SORT · CHOOSEROWS

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Keep reading

Excel Functions A–ZTODAY Function in Excel: Current Date That Updates Every DayExcel Functions A–ZABS Function in Excel: Absolute Value (Remove the Minus Sign)Excel Functions A–ZCHOOSE Function in Excel: Pick From a List by Number
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