Offset enables you to manipulate a cell based on the location of another cell, such as the active cell.

The syntax for the Offset property is as follows:

Range.Offset(RowOffset, ColumnOffset)

For example, the following code affects cell F5 from cell A1:

Range("A1").Offset(RowOffset:=4, ColumnOffset:=5)

Or, shorter yet, you can write this:

Range("A1").Offset(4,5)

The count of the rows and columns starts at A1 but does not include A1.

If you need to go over only a row or a column, but not both, you don’t have to enter both the row and the column parameters. To refer to a cell one column over, use one of these lines:

Range("A1").Offset(ColumnOffset:=1)

Range("A1").Offset(,1)

Both of these lines have the same meaning, so the choice is yours. If you use the second line, make sure to include the comma so Excel knows that the 1 refers to the ColumnOffset argument.

Referring to a cell one row up is similar:

Range("B2").Offset(RowOffset:=-1)

Range("B2").Offset(-1)