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Methods for Finding the Last Used Row or Column in a Worksheet

In this example, we will look at a method for returning the last non-empty row in a column for a data set.

This method will work regardless of empty regions within the data set.

However caution should be used if merged cells are involved, as the End method will be “stopped” against a merged region, returning the first cell of the merged region.

In addition non-empty cells in hidden rows will not be taken into account.

Sub FindingLastRow()
Dim wS As Worksheet, LastRow As Long
Set wS = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1")
'Here we look in Column A
LastRow = wS.Cells(wS.Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row
Debug.Print LastRow
End Sub

To address the limitations indicated above, the line:
LastRow = wS.Cells(wS.Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row

may be replaced with:

  • for last used row of `"Sheet1"`:
    `LastRow = wS.UsedRange.Row - 1 + wS.UsedRange.Rows.Count`.

  • for last non-empty cell of Column `"A"` in `"Sheet1"`:
    Dim i As Long
    For i = LastRow To 1 Step -1
    If Not (IsEmpty(Cells(i, 1))) Then Exit For
    Next i
    LastRow = i
  • Private Sub Get_Last_Used_Row_Index()
    Dim wS As Worksheet
    Set wS = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
    Debug.Print LastRow_1(wS)
    Debug.Print LastRow_0(wS)
    End Sub

    You can choose between 2 options, regarding if you want to know if there is no data in the worksheet :

    • NO : Use LastRow_1 : You can use it directly within wS.Cells(LastRow_1(wS),...)
    • YES : Use LastRow_0 : You need to test if the result you get from the function is 0 or not before using it
    Public Function LastRow_1(wS As Worksheet) As Double
    With wS
    If Application.WorksheetFunction.CountA(.Cells) <> 0 Then
    LastRow_1 = .Cells.Find(What:="*", _
    After:=.Range("A1"), _
    Lookat:=xlPart, _
    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByRows, _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    MatchCase:=False).Row
    Else
    LastRow_1 = 1
    End If
    End With
    End Function
    Public Function LastRow_0(wS As Worksheet) As Double
    On Error Resume Next
    LastRow_0 = wS.Cells.Find(What:="*", _
    After:=ws.Range("A1"), _
    Lookat:=xlPart, _
    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByRows, _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    MatchCase:=False).Row
    End Function

    Find the Last Non-Empty Column in Worksheet

    Section titled “Find the Last Non-Empty Column in Worksheet”
    Private Sub Get_Last_Used_Row_Index()
    Dim wS As Worksheet
    Set wS = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
    Debug.Print LastCol_1(wS)
    Debug.Print LastCol_0(wS)
    End Sub

    You can choose between 2 options, regarding if you want to know if there is no data in the worksheet :

    • NO : Use LastCol_1 : You can use it directly within wS.Cells(...,LastCol_1(wS))
    • YES : Use LastCol_0 : You need to test if the result you get from the function is 0 or not before using it
    Public Function LastCol_1(wS As Worksheet) As Double
    With wS
    If Application.WorksheetFunction.CountA(.Cells) <> 0 Then
    LastCol_1 = .Cells.Find(What:="*", _
    After:=.Range("A1"), _
    Lookat:=xlPart, _
    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    MatchCase:=False).Column
    Else
    LastCol_1 = 1
    End If
    End With
    End Function

    The Err object’s properties are automatically reset to zero upon function exit.

    Public Function LastCol_0(wS As Worksheet) As Double
    On Error Resume Next
    LastCol_0 = wS.Cells.Find(What:="*", _
    After:=ws.Range("A1"), _
    Lookat:=xlPart, _
    LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    MatchCase:=False).Column
    End Function

    In this example, we will look at a method for returning the last non-empty column in a row.

    This method will work regardless of empty regions within the data set.

    However caution should be used if merged cells are involved, as the End method will be “stopped” against a merged region, returning the first cell of the merged region.

    In addition non-empty cells in hidden columns will not be taken into account.

    Sub FindingLastCol()
    Dim wS As Worksheet, LastCol As Long
    Set wS = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1")
    'Here we look in Row 1
    LastCol = wS.Cells(1, wS.Columns.Count).End(xlToLeft).Column
    Debug.Print LastCol
    End Sub

    In case you have a Named Range in your Sheet, and you want to dynamically get the last row of that Dynamic Named Range. Also covers cases where the Named Range doesn’t start from the first Row.

    Sub FindingLastRow()
    Dim sht As Worksheet
    Dim LastRow As Long
    Dim FirstRow As Long
    Set sht = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("form")
    'Using Named Range "MyNameRange"
    FirstRow = sht.Range("MyNameRange").Row
    ' in case "MyNameRange" doesn't start at Row 1
    LastRow = sht.Range("MyNameRange").Rows.count + FirstRow - 1
    End Sub

    Update:
    A potential loophole was pointed out by @Jeeped for a a named range with non-contiguous rows as it generates unexpected result. To addresses that issue, the code is revised as below.
    Asumptions: targes sheet = form, named range = MyNameRange

    Sub FindingLastRow()
    Dim rw As Range, rwMax As Long
    For Each rw In Sheets("form").Range("MyNameRange").Rows
    If rw.Row > rwMax Then rwMax = rw.Row
    Next
    MsgBox "Last row of 'MyNameRange' under Sheets 'form': " & rwMax
    End Sub
    'if only one area (not multiple areas):
    With Range("A3:D20")
    Debug.Print .Cells(.Cells.CountLarge).Row
    Debug.Print .Item(.Cells.CountLarge).Row 'using .item is also possible
    End With 'Debug prints: 20
    'with multiple areas (also works if only one area):
    Dim rngArea As Range, LastRow As Long
    With Range("A3:D20, E5:I50, H20:R35")
    For Each rngArea In .Areas
    If rngArea(rngArea.Cells.CountLarge).Row > LastRow Then
    LastRow = rngArea(rngArea.Cells.CountLarge).Row
    End If
    Next
    Debug.Print LastRow 'Debug prints: 50
    End With

    Range.CurrentRegion is a rectangular range area surrounded by empty cells. Blank cells with formulas such as ="" or ' are not considered blank (even by the ISBLANK Excel function).

    Dim rng As Range, lastCell As Range
    Set rng = Range("C3").CurrentRegion ' or Set rng = Sheet1.UsedRange.CurrentRegion
    Set lastCell = rng(rng.Rows.Count, rng.Columns.Count)

    Find the Last Non-Empty Cell in Worksheet - Performance (Array)

    Section titled “Find the Last Non-Empty Cell in Worksheet - Performance (Array)”
    • The first function, using an array, is much faster
    • If called without the optional parameter, will default to .ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet
    • If the range is empty will returns Cell( 1, 1 ) as default, instead of Nothing

    Speed:

    `GetMaxCell (Array): Duration: 0.0000790063 seconds`
    `GetMaxCell (Find ): Duration: 0.0002903480 seconds`

    .Measured with [MicroTimer](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff700515(v=office.14).aspx#Anchor_5)
    Public Function GetLastCell(Optional ByVal ws As Worksheet = Nothing) As Range
    Dim uRng As Range, uArr As Variant, r As Long, c As Long
    Dim ubR As Long, ubC As Long, lRow As Long
    If ws Is Nothing Then Set ws = Application.ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet
    Set uRng = ws.UsedRange
    uArr = uRng
    If IsEmpty(uArr) Then
    Set GetLastCell = ws.Cells(1, 1): Exit Function
    End If
    If Not IsArray(uArr) Then
    Set GetLastCell = ws.Cells(uRng.Row, uRng.Column): Exit Function
    End If
    ubR = UBound(uArr, 1): ubC = UBound(uArr, 2)
    For r = ubR To 1 Step -1 '----------------------------------------------- last row
    For c = ubC To 1 Step -1
    If Not IsError(uArr(r, c)) Then
    If Len(Trim$(uArr(r, c))) > 0 Then
    lRow = r: Exit For
    End If
    End If
    Next
    If lRow > 0 Then Exit For
    Next
    If lRow = 0 Then lRow = ubR
    For c = ubC To 1 Step -1 '----------------------------------------------- last col
    For r = lRow To 1 Step -1
    If Not IsError(uArr(r, c)) Then
    If Len(Trim$(uArr(r, c))) > 0 Then
    Set GetLastCell = ws.Cells(lRow + uRng.Row - 1, c + uRng.Column - 1)
    Exit Function
    End If
    End If
    Next
    Next
    End Function
    'Returns last cell (max row & max col) using Find
    Public Function GetMaxCell2(Optional ByRef rng As Range = Nothing) As Range 'Using Find
    Const NONEMPTY As String = "*"
    Dim lRow As Range, lCol As Range
    If rng Is Nothing Then Set rng = Application.ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.UsedRange
    If WorksheetFunction.CountA(rng) = 0 Then
    Set GetMaxCell2 = rng.Parent.Cells(1, 1)
    Else
    With rng
    Set lRow = .Cells.Find(What:=NONEMPTY, LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    After:=.Cells(1, 1), _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByRows)
    If Not lRow Is Nothing Then
    Set lCol = .Cells.Find(What:=NONEMPTY, LookIn:=xlFormulas, _
    After:=.Cells(1, 1), _
    SearchDirection:=xlPrevious, _
    SearchOrder:=xlByColumns)
    Set GetMaxCell2 = .Parent.Cells(lRow.Row, lCol.Column)
    End If
    End With
    End If
    End Function

    .

    MicroTimer:

    Private Declare PtrSafe Function getFrequency Lib "Kernel32" Alias "QueryPerformanceFrequency" (cyFrequency As Currency) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function getTickCount Lib "Kernel32" Alias "QueryPerformanceCounter" (cyTickCount As Currency) As Long
    Function MicroTimer() As Double
    Dim cyTicks1 As Currency
    Static cyFrequency As Currency
    MicroTimer = 0
    If cyFrequency = 0 Then getFrequency cyFrequency 'Get frequency
    getTickCount cyTicks1 'Get ticks
    If cyFrequency Then MicroTimer = cyTicks1 / cyFrequency 'Returns Seconds
    End Function

    You can find a good explanation on why other methods are discouraged/inaccurate here : http://stackoverflow.com/a/11169920/4628637