diff --git a/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellReference.java b/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellReference.java
index ec498d8ea1..6e2412f9e2 100644
--- a/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellReference.java
+++ b/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellReference.java
@@ -491,11 +491,32 @@ public class CellReference implements GenericRecord {
      *    <tr><td>'O''Brien''s Sales'!A1'&nbsp;</td><td>Sheet name with special characters</td></tr>
      *  </table>
      * @return the text representation of this cell reference as it would appear in a formula.
+     * @see #formatAsString(boolean)
      */
     public String formatAsString() {
         return formatAsString(true);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a text representation of this cell reference in R1C1 format.
+     * <p>
+     *  Example return values:
+     *  <table>
+     *    <caption>Example return values</caption>
+     *    <tr><th>Result</th><th>Comment</th></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>R1C1</td><td>Cell reference without sheet</td></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>Sheet1!R1C1</td><td>Standard sheet name</td></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>'O''Brien''s Sales'!R1C1'&nbsp;</td><td>Sheet name with special characters</td></tr>
+     *  </table>
+     * @return the text representation of this cell reference as it would appear in a formula.
+     * @see #formatAsString()
+     * @see #formatAsR1C1String(boolean)
+     * @since POI 5.2.1
+     */
+    public String formatAsR1C1String() {
+        return formatAsR1C1String(true);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns a text representation of this cell reference and allows to control
      * if the sheetname is included in the reference.
@@ -512,6 +533,7 @@ public class CellReference implements GenericRecord {
      * @param   includeSheetName If true and there is a sheet name set for this cell reference,
      *                           the reference is prefixed with the sheet name and '!'
      * @return the text representation of this cell reference as it would appear in a formula.
+     * @see #formatAsString()
      */
     public String formatAsString(boolean includeSheetName) {
         StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(32);
@@ -523,6 +545,36 @@ public class CellReference implements GenericRecord {
         return sb.toString();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a text representation of this cell reference in R1C1 format and allows to control
+     * if the sheetname is included in the reference.
+     *
+     * <p>
+     *  Example return values:
+     *  <table>
+     *    <caption>Example return values</caption>
+     *    <tr><th>Result</th><th>Comment</th></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>R1C1</td><td>Cell reference without sheet</td></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>Sheet1!R1C1</td><td>Standard sheet name</td></tr>
+     *    <tr><td>'O''Brien''s Sales'!R1C1'&nbsp;</td><td>Sheet name with special characters</td></tr>
+     *  </table>
+     * @param   includeSheetName If true and there is a sheet name set for this cell reference,
+     *                           the reference is prefixed with the sheet name and '!'
+     * @return the text representation of this cell reference as it would appear in a formula.
+     * @see #formatAsString(boolean)
+     * @see #formatAsR1C1String()
+     * @since POI 5.2.1
+     */
+    public String formatAsR1C1String(boolean includeSheetName) {
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(32);
+        if(includeSheetName && _sheetName != null) {
+            SheetNameFormatter.appendFormat(sb, _sheetName);
+            sb.append(SHEET_NAME_DELIMITER);
+        }
+        appendR1C1CellReference(sb);
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return getClass().getName() + " [" + formatAsString() + "]";
@@ -564,6 +616,19 @@ public class CellReference implements GenericRecord {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Appends R1C1 cell reference with '$' markers for absolute values as required.
+     * Sheet name is not included.
+     */
+    /* package */ void appendR1C1CellReference(StringBuilder sb) {
+        if (_rowIndex != -1) {
+            sb.append('R').append(_rowIndex+1);
+        }
+        if (_colIndex != -1) {
+            sb.append('C').append(_colIndex+1);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Checks whether this cell reference is equal to another object.
      * <p>
diff --git a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestAreaReference.java b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestAreaReference.java
index 1fe92ec022..28170dbf12 100644
--- a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestAreaReference.java
+++ b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestAreaReference.java
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ final class TestAreaReference {
         ar = new AreaReference("Tabelle1!B5:B5", SpreadsheetVersion.EXCEL97);
         assertTrue(ar.isSingleCell());
         TestCellReference.confirmCell(ar.getFirstCell(), "Tabelle1", 4, 1, false, false, "Tabelle1!B5");
+        assertEquals("Tabelle1!R5C2", ar.getFirstCell().formatAsR1C1String(true));
 
         assertEquals(1, ar.getAllReferencedCells().length);
 
diff --git a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestCellReference.java b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestCellReference.java
index f761e251dd..33d98d50f0 100644
--- a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestCellReference.java
+++ b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/TestCellReference.java
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ final class TestCellReference {
     void testAbsRef1(){
         CellReference cf = new CellReference("$B$5");
         confirmCell(cf, null, 4, 1, true, true, "$B$5");
+        //absolute refs are not supported for R1C1 style
+        assertEquals("R5C2", cf.formatAsR1C1String());
     }
 
     @Test