How To Add Serial Number In Google Sheets

In this tutorial, you will learn how to add a serial number in Google Sheets.

How To Add Serial Number In Google Sheets

Sometimes when working in a spreadsheet, you may need to quickly add a sequence of numbers to a column. For example, you may be keeping track of a list of items and need to assign each item a unique ID number. There are multiple ways to generate a serial number for your data in Google Sheets.

First, we can use the AutoFill tool to generate the sequence from a starting point. We can also use the SEQUENCE function to create all the serial numbers programmatically.

In this guide, we will show you how to quickly add serial numbers to your Google Sheets data.

How to Number Rows in a Table in Google Sheets

Here’s how to number rows in a table in Google Sheets.

Step 1

First, we’ll create a new column in our dataset labeled ‘serial number’. You can create a new column by right-clicking on a certain column and selecting the ‘Insert 1 column left’ or ‘Insert 1 column right’ option.

Step 2

In the first empty cell of the new column, enter a value of ‘1’.

This will be the first serial number of the dataset.

Step 3

In the next cell below, type the value ‘2’. Select both cells using your cursor.

Step 4

Use the Fill Handle tool to automatically fill the rest of the column with consecutive numbers.

In this example, we were able to successfully create serial numbers for all 23 entries in our dataset of transactions.

Step 5

Alternatively, we can use the Ctrl shortcut to generate serial numbers.

After typing 1 in the first empty cell of the serial number row, hold the Ctrl key and click the blue square in the selected cell.

Google Sheets will automatically fill the rest of the column with sequential values starting from 1.

Step 6

Alternatively, we can use the ‘+’ addition operator to generate the next value in the sequence.

Step 7

We’ll use the AutoFill feature to copy the formula down the rest of the column.

Step 8

We can also use the SEQUENCE function to create serial numbers.

The SEQUENCE function will generate an array of sequential numbers. If we provide a single numerical argument, the function will return a sequence of integers from 1 to the provided argument.

Step 9

If we evaluate the formula =SEQUENCE(23) in cell A2, we will arrive at the result below.

Summary

This guide should be everything you need to add a serial number in Google Sheets.

You may make a copy of this example spreadsheet to test it out on your own.