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What Is VLOOKUP in Excel

The VLOOKUP function in Excel searches for a value in one column based on a given value in another column. It has four parameters: the lookup value, table array, column index number, and range lookup. The function can also be used to lookup values across sheets in the same workbook or even other workbooks.

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37 views9 pages

What Is VLOOKUP in Excel

The VLOOKUP function in Excel searches for a value in one column based on a given value in another column. It has four parameters: the lookup value, table array, column index number, and range lookup. The function can also be used to lookup values across sheets in the same workbook or even other workbooks.

Uploaded by

acem16098
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is VLOOKUP in Excel?

The VLOOKUP function in Excel searches for a value in one column based on
a given value in another column. The formula is made of four parameters (or
arguments):

 Lookup value: this is the value you want Excel to search for.
 Table array: this is the cell range containing the lookup value and the value
you want Excel to return (the data you're looking for). Note: The lookup value
must be in the first column in the given range. For example, if your lookup
value is in cell A3, then your range should start with A.
 Column index number: this is the column number in the given range
containing the value you want Excel to return. If your table array is A2:D10, for
example, count column A as your first column, column B as your second, and
so on. If your table array is C2:F10, count column C as your first column,
column D as your second, and so on. Your column index number tells Excel
which column to retrieve the data you're looking for.
 Range lookup: this is an optional parameter. By default, the VLOOKUP
function always returns an approximate match (designated by TRUE). If you
want an exact match, enter FALSE.

Put those parameters together and you get this:

=VLOOKUP(lookup value,table array,column index number,range lookup)

You can use the same function in Google Sheets to quickly extract information from
complex datasets. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use VLOOKUP in Google
Sheets.
How to use VLOOKUP in Excel

If you're looking for a quick refresher, here's the short version of how to use
the VLOOKUP formula in Excel. (Keep scrolling for a more detailed
breakdown.)

1. Click the cell where you want Excel to return the data you're looking for.
2. Enter =VLOOKUP(lookup value,table array,column index number,range lookup).

3. Press Enter or Return.

Now let's dive into a detailed breakdown of how to use VLOOKUP (or vertical
lookup).

To keep this tutorial simple, I'll show you how to use the VLOOKUP function in
Excel to identify an employee's ID based on their last name. Specifically,
we're looking for Sandra Kwon's employee ID. While you'd probably use
VLOOKUP for something more complex with a much larger dataset, the steps
to use VLOOKUP remain the same.
A quick reminder before we get started: the lookup value must be in the first
column of your table array. For this demo, our lookup value (Kwon in cell B6)
will be in the first column of our table array (B2:D10). If you're working with a
different dataset where the lookup value isn't in the first column, you may have
to reorganize your data. Or you can copy and paste the columns you're
working with into another area of your worksheet. If you go with the latter, I
recommend pasting the data into a new worksheet altogether to keep your
data manageable.

Once your data is organized, you're ready to get started.

As a refresher, we want to know Sandra Kwon's employee ID based on her


last name.
1. Click the cell where you want Excel to return the data you're looking for. In
this case, click cell B13.
2. Enter =VLOOKUP.
3. Press Enter or Return. Excel will automatically add a left parenthesis after
the function, so it looks like this: =VLOOKUP(.
4. Input the following parameters immediately after the parenthesis, separating
each one with a comma.
 Lookup value: B6.
 Table array: B2:D10.
 Column index number: 3. Remember: the value we want Excel to return
(employee ID) is in column D, which is the third column of the given cell
range.
 Range lookup: enter FALSE to get an exact match.
5. Enter the right parenthesis ()) to close your formula so that cell B13 now
reads =VLOOKUP(B6,B2:D10,3,FALSE).
6. Press Enter or Return.

Excel immediately returns the corresponding value: 765432.

How to do VLOOKUP in Excel with two spreadsheets

Let's say Sheet 1 of our demo workbook is our primary spreadsheet—it


contains every bit of employee data. There's also a second spreadsheet
(Sheet 2), which contains only employee names and their updated company
email addresses.
Now you need to update the email addresses in Sheet 1 with the new email
addresses from Sheet 2. You can accomplish this with the VLOOKUP
function, but you'll need to modify your table array parameter to tell Excel
which spreadsheet contains the corresponding lookup value you want it to
return.

This is the modified VLOOKUP formula to return a value from another sheet
within the same workbook:

=VLOOKUP(lookup value,sheet!range,column index number,range lookup)

Let's use VLOOKUP to update the email address in cell E2 of Sheet 1 with the
email address in cell C2 of Sheet 2.

1. Click cell E2 of Sheet 1.


2. Enter =VLOOKUP(B2,Sheet2!$A$2:$C$10,3,FALSE). Here's a breakdown of the
modified table array:
 Sheet2!: This is the name of the spreadsheet that contains the given cell
range. Note: to reference another worksheet, input [name of sheet]!. If your
sheet name contains spaces or non-alphabetical characters, it must be
enclosed in single quotation marks. For example, 'Sheet 1'!.

 $A$2:$C:$10: The cell range is A2:C10. To prevent the range from


changing when copying the formula to other cells, we lock it in
using absolute cell references.
3. Press Enter or Return.

Excel returns the corresponding value from Sheet 2 in cell E2 of Sheet


1: j.cochran@acme.com.

To quickly update the remaining email addresses in Sheet 1, drag the fill
handle from cell E2 down.
How to do VLOOKUP in Excel with two workbooks
To use VLOOKUP to retrieve data from another workbook, all you have to do
is include the file name of the other workbook within square brackets
immediately followed by the sheet name and table array. Here's the formula
template:

=VLOOKUP(lookup value,[file_name.xlsx]Sheet!range,column index number,range

lookup)

Let's say we stored the employees' updated email addresses in Sheet 1 of


the 2023_employee_emails.xlsx workbook instead. To populate the new email
address in cell E2 of our primary spreadsheet, enter:

=VLOOKUP(B2,[2023_employee_emails.xlsx]Sheet1!$A$2:$C$10,3,FALSE)

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