Try something like this:

=COLUMNS($A:A)

$A:A = 1
$A:B = 2
$A:E = 5
$A:J = 10

=VLOOKUP($A1,$B$1:$Z$10,COLUMNS($A:B),0)

As you drag copy across the COLUMNS( ) will increment.

Biff

"stickandrock" wrote in message
...
Is there a way to show the number of columns between 2 columns. Without
using a Column() formula in both then a formula to determine the
difference.

We are constantly using Vlookup at work and end up manually counting
columns
for the desired retreved column.

Thanks for any and all input.