# How to return only certain columns with FILTER in Excel

Wrap FILTER in CHOOSECOLS: `=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A2:E11,D2:D11=H1),3,5)` returns just the customer and amount columns of the matching rows.

**Excel:** `=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A2:E11,D2:D11=H1),3,5)` (Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Order | Date | Customer | Region | Amount |  | Region | West |
| SO-1041 | 2026-02-23 | Northwind | West | 1840 |  |  |  |
| SO-1042 | 2026-03-02 | Contoso | East | 420 |  |  |  |
| SO-1043 | 2026-03-09 | Fabrikam | West | 395 |  |  |  |
| SO-1044 | 2026-03-15 | Litware | North | 1720 |  |  |  |
| SO-1045 | 2026-03-21 | Adatum | South | 2210 |  |  |  |
| SO-1046 | 2026-03-31 | Proseware | East | 1955 |  |  |  |
| SO-1047 | 2026-04-06 | Wingtip | West | 610 |  |  |  |
| SO-1048 | 2026-04-14 | Tailspin | South | 380 |  |  |  |
| SO-1049 | 2026-04-20 | Lucerne | North | 1100 |  |  |  |
| SO-1050 | 2026-04-28 | Contoso | East | 865 |  |  |  |

Formula in G3: `=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A2:E11,D2:D11=H1),3,5)`

Result (spills 3 × 2): Northwind, $1,840; Fabrikam, $395; Wingtip, $610

## How it works

FILTER returns whole rows of `A2:E11`. CHOOSECOLS then keeps the columns you name by their position in that result: 3 is the customer and 5 is the amount. The columns don't have to be next to each other, and you can list them in any order.

## Other ways

- `=FILTER(HSTACK(C2:C11,E2:E11),D2:D11=H1)`: Stack the columns you want first, then filter. Handy when the columns come from different places.
- `=QUERY(A1:E11,"select C, E where D = '"&H1&"'",1)`: In Google Sheets, QUERY picks the columns and the rows in one step, and adds the header row. (Includes the header row (Customer, Amount) on top.)

## Common mistakes

- The numbers in CHOOSECOLS count from the left of the FILTER result, not from column A of the sheet. If the table starts in column B, column B is 1.
- CHOOSECOLS needs Excel 2024 or Microsoft 365. In Excel 2021, filter each column on its own: `=FILTER(C2:C11,D2:D11=H1)`.

## Questions

**How do I change the order of the columns?**

List them in the order you want: `=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A2:E11,D2:D11=H1),5,3)` puts the amount first.

**How do I drop one column instead of picking several?**

Use negative numbers to count from the right, or DROP: `=DROP(FILTER(A2:E11,D2:D11=H1),,1)` removes the first column.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/return-certain-columns-with-filter