Fix 'The parameters don't match the method signature for SpreadsheetApp.Range.setValues' in Apps Script

TL;DR

setValues() demands a 2D array — an array of arrays. Pass a flat 1D array like [1, 2, 3] and you get this error. The fix is one extra set of brackets: [[1, 2, 3]] for a single row, or [[1], [2], [3]] for a single column.

// ❌ Wrong — 1D array
range.setValues([1, 2, 3]);

// ✅ Correct — 2D array (one row)
range.setValues([[1, 2, 3]]);

// ✅ Correct — 2D array (one column)
range.setValues([[1], [2], [3]]);

Root Cause

In the Apps Script execution log, the full error reads:

Exception: The parameters (number[]) don't match the method signature for SpreadsheetApp.Range.setValues.

Spreadsheets are grids. Rows and columns. setValues() maps directly onto that structure, so it always expects a 2D array:

• The outer array = rows.
• Each inner array = the cells in that row.

Pass [10, 20, 30] and Apps Script sees a number[] — one-dimensional. It needs number[][]. The signature doesn't match, so the method throws before writing a single byte.

The type in parentheses shifts based on your data — you might see (number[]), (string[]), or (String[]). Doesn't matter. The fix is always the same: wrap it in another array.

Common Scenarios and Fixes

Scenario 1: Writing a single row of values

Say you have three values — a name, an age, and a job title — and want to drop them into row 1.

// ❌ Broken
function writeRow() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var values = ["Alice", 30, "Engineer"];
  sheet.getRange(1, 1, 1, 3).setValues(values); // TypeError!
}

// ✅ Fixed
function writeRow() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var values = [["Alice", 30, "Engineer"]];
  sheet.getRange(1, 1, 1, 3).setValues(values);
}

getRange(1, 1, 1, 3) means 1 row × 3 columns. Your 2D array must match: one inner array containing exactly 3 elements.

Scenario 2: Writing a single column of values

Going down a column is the reverse shape — each value gets its own inner array.

// ❌ Broken
function writeColumn() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var values = [100, 200, 300];
  sheet.getRange(1, 1, 3, 1).setValues(values); // TypeError!
}

// ✅ Fixed — each value lives in its own row array
function writeColumn() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var values = [[100], [200], [300]];
  sheet.getRange(1, 1, 3, 1).setValues(values);
}

Scenario 3: Building the array dynamically in a loop

Loop-built arrays are the most common place this bug hides. You iterate over data, push values, and forget each push needs to be a row — not a bare value.

// ❌ Broken — pushes flat numbers
function processData() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var output = [];
  var data = [10, 20, 30, 40];

  data.forEach(function(val) {
    output.push(val * 2); // pushing a number, not an array
  });

  sheet.getRange(1, 1, output.length, 1).setValues(output); // TypeError!
}

// ✅ Fixed — push a mini-array each iteration
function processData() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var output = [];
  var data = [10, 20, 30, 40];

  data.forEach(function(val) {
    output.push([val * 2]); // each row is its own array
  });

  sheet.getRange(1, 1, output.length, 1).setValues(output);
}

Scenario 4: Accidentally flattening getValues() output

getValues() always returns a 2D array — that part is safe. The trouble starts when you call .flat(), chain a .map() that returns primitives, or slice a single-row result. Any of those can silently strip the outer array.

// ❌ Broken — .flat() kills the 2D structure
function copyRow() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var sourceValues = sheet.getRange("A1:C1").getValues().flat();
  // sourceValues is now ["x", "y", "z"] — 1D!
  sheet.getRange("A2:C2").setValues(sourceValues); // TypeError!
}

// ✅ Fixed — use getValues() result directly
function copyRow() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var sourceValues = sheet.getRange("A1:C1").getValues();
  // sourceValues is [["x", "y", "z"]] — still 2D
  sheet.getRange("A2:C2").setValues(sourceValues);
}

Scenario 5: Writing a single cell

Single-cell writes have a cleaner option. setValue() (no 's') takes a plain value. If you insist on setValues(), you still need the double brackets.

// Option A — cleaner for one cell
sheet.getRange("A1").setValue(42);

// Option B — setValues() still needs 2D
sheet.getRange("A1").setValues([[42]]);

Debugging Checklist

Not sure what shape your array is? Log it before the call:

var values = buildMyArray(); // whatever your logic is
Logger.log(JSON.stringify(values));
Logger.log("Is array: " + Array.isArray(values));
Logger.log("Is 2D: " + Array.isArray(values[0]));

var numRows = values.length;
var numCols = values[0].length;
Logger.log("Dimensions: " + numRows + " rows x " + numCols + " cols");

// Then confirm the range matches those dimensions
sheet.getRange(startRow, startCol, numRows, numCols).setValues(values);

Range dimensions must match exactly. A 3×2 array needs a 3-row, 2-column range. Size mismatches throw a different error — but getting the 2D structure right first eliminates this specific one.

Verify the Fix

• Open the script editor: Extensions → Apps Script inside your spreadsheet.
• Run your function with the ▶ button or Ctrl+R.
• Check the Execution log (View → Logs) — no exceptions means the call succeeded.
• Flip back to the spreadsheet and confirm the target cells hold the right values.

Quick Reference

• Single row, multiple columns: [[val1, val2, val3]]
• Multiple rows, single column: [[val1], [val2], [val3]]
• Multiple rows, multiple columns: [[a1, b1], [a2, b2], [a3, b3]]
• Single cell via setValues: [[val]]
• Single cell shortcut: setValue(val) — no brackets needed