Returns the column number of a reference.
This function works the same in Google Sheets as it does in Excel — same syntax and arguments.
COLUMN([reference])The COLUMN function returns the column index number for a given cell reference. If the reference argument is omitted, the function returns the number of the column where the formula is currently located.
=COLUMN(C1)Result: 3
Returns 3 because column C is the third column in the worksheet.
=COLUMN()Result: 1
Returns 1 if the formula is entered in cell A1.
The function will return the column number of the first column in the range.