How do I declare an array variable in VBA?

calendar_today Asked Apr 17, 2011
thumb_up 25 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

Generally, you should declare variables of a specific type, rather than Variant. In this example, the test variable should be of type String. And, because it's an array, you need…. This is a prose walkthrough, ranked #17th of 95 by community upvote score, from 2011.


The Problem (Q-score 17, ranked #17th of 95 in the VBA Core archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2011

I need to add the var in array

Public Sub Testprog()

Dim test As Variant
Dim iCounter As Integer

If test = Empty Then
    iCounter = 0
    test(iCounter) = "test"
Else
    iCounter = UBound(test)
End If
End Sub

Getting error at test(iCounter) = "test"

Please suggest some solution

Why the Win32 API declaration is fragile here

This problem involves a Declare statement, which means 32-bit vs 64-bit compatibility is in play. Office 64-bit requires the PtrSafe keyword and LongPtr data types for any handles — the most common root cause of the exact symptom described.


The Verified Solution — strong answer (top 25 %%) (+25)

Verbal answer — walkthrough without a code block

Note: the verified answer is a prose walkthrough. If you need a runnable sample, check VBA Core entries ranked in the top 10 of the same archive.

Generally, you should declare variables of a specific type, rather than Variant. In this example, the test variable should be of type String.

And, because it’s an array, you need to indicate that specifically when you declare the variable. There are two ways of declaring array variables:

  1. If you know the size of the array (the number of elements that it should contain) when you write the program, you can specify that number in parentheses in the declaration:

    Dim test(1) As String   'declares an array with 2 elements that holds strings

    This type of array is referred to as a static array, as its size is fixed, or static.

  2. If you do not know the size of the array when you write the application, you can use a dynamic array. A dynamic array is one whose size is not specified in the declaration (Dim statement), but rather is determined later during the execution of the program using the ReDim statement. For example:

    Dim test() As String
Dim arraySize As Integer

' Code to do other things, like calculate the size required for the array
' ...
arraySize = 5

ReDim test(arraySize)  'size the array to the value of the arraySize variable


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #17th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 80% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the VBA Core archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2011 and 2026

The answer is 15 years old. The VBA Core object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

help
Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this sit in the top quartile of VBA Core answers?
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Answer score +25 vs the VBA Core archive median ~8; this entry is strong. The score plus 17 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+17) means the asker and 24 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

The answer has no code block — how do I turn it into a snippet?
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Use the walkthrough above as a checklist, then open a top-10 VBA Core archive entry for a concrete starting template you can adapt.

This answer is 15 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2011, which is 15 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The VBA Core object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which VBA Core pattern ranks just above this one at #16?
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The pattern one rank above is “How do I get regex support in excel via a function, or custom function?”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 17, Answer-score 25, original post 2011, ranked #17th of 95 in the VBA Core archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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