Offset Function :

Syntax
= offset (Range, Rows, Columns, (Height), (Width))
PARAMETERS OR ARGUMENTS
Range is the starting range from which the offset will be applied.
Rows is the number of rows to apply as the offset to the range. This can be a positive or
negative number.
Columns is the number of columns to apply as the offset to the range. This can be a
positive or negative number.
Height is optional. It is the number of rows that you want the returned range to be. If this
parameter is omitted, it is assumed to be the height of range.
Width is optional. It is the number of columns that you want the returned range to be. If
this parameter is omitted, it is assumed to be the width of range.
OFFSET limitations
While offset formula can return with a dynamic range when you beckon, it does have few
limitations:
OFFSET formula is volatile: In plain English it means, whenever there is any change in
your workbook, OFFSET formula is recalculated, thus keeping Excel busy a tiny bit
longer. This is not an issue if you use OFFSET formula in a small workbook. But when
you use lots of OFFSET formulas in large workbooks, you will end up cursing Excel as it
takes too much time to recalculate.
OFFSET formulas are tricky to debug: Because the references are dynamic, debugging a
workbook with lots of OFFSETs can get tricky quickly.
Alternatives to OFFSET formula
There 2 fine alternatives to OFFSET formula.
Use Excel Tables: Since Excel 2007, we can create tables from structured data and write
formulas, create charts that refer to dynamic ranges with ease. Click here to know more
about tables.
Use INDEX formula: Although not exactly same as OFFSET, INDEX formula can also
be used to generate dynamic range references. Plus, INDEX is a non-volatile formula, so
it wont keep Excel busy unnecessarily. Know more about INDEX formula.
Do you use OFFSET formula?

For most of my dynamic range needs, I rely on tables or INDEX formula. I use OFFSET
formula when I have to calculate values like average of latest week. In such cases
OFFSET is an elegant solution.
What about you? Do you use OFFSET formula? In which situations do you use it? Please
share your tips & examples with us using comments.
Know More about OFFSET
Check out below examples to understand OFFSET formula better:
Calculations: Sum of values between 2 dates | Moving averages | Average of closest
numbers| More
Modeling: Calculate IRR of dynamic ranges | Manage scenario analysis
Charting & Dashboards: Dynamic range charts | Top x chart | Analyzing large datasets |
KPI dashboards
Validations & Pivots: Dynamic Data Validation | Dependent Drop downs | De-duplicate
& Sort data
And many more uses of OFFSET