Skip to content
Free Excel Tutorials
  • Home
  • Excel For Beginners
  • Excel Intermediate
  • Advanced Excel For Experts

Data Analysis

  • How to create dynamic reference table name in Excel
  • Calculate Conditional Percentile ‘IF’ in table in Excel
  • Move chart to a separate worksheet in Excel
  • How to Create Thermometer Chart in Excel
  • How to Sort by Color in Excel

References

  • How to use Excel COLUMN Function
  • Left Lookup in Excel
  • How to get last row in numeric data in Excel
  • How to get first row number in range in Excel
  • Find closest match in Excel

Data Validations

  • Excel Data validation date in next 30 days
  • Excel Data validation must begin with
  • How To Create Drop-down List in Excel
  • Excel Data validation require unique number
  • Data validation must not exist in list

Excel Advanced Lookup using Index and Match Functions

by

Instead of using VLOOKUP, Use INDEX and MATCH and become an Excel pro. . To perform advanced lookups, you’ll need INDEX and MATCH.

Match

The MATCH function returns the position of a value in a given range. For example, the MATCH function below looks up the value 53 in the range B3:B9.

Explanation: 53 (first argument) found at position 5 in the range B3:B9 (second argument). In this example, we use the MATCH function to return an exact match so we set the third argument to 0.

Index

The INDEX function below returns a specific value in a one-dimensional range.

Explanation: the INDEX function returns the 5th value (second argument) in the range E3:E9 (first argument).

Index and Match

Replace the value 5 in the INDEX function (see previous example) with the MATCH function (see first example) to lookup the salary of ID 53.

Explanation: the MATCH function returns position 5. The INDEX function needs position 5. It’s a perfect combination. If you like, you can also use the VLOOKUP function. It’s up to you. However, you’ll need INDEX and MATCH to perform advanced lookups, as we will see next.

Two-way Lookup

The INDEX function can also return a specific value in a two-dimensional range. For example, use the INDEX and the MATCH function in Excel to perform a two-way-lookup.

Case-sensitive Lookup

By default, the VLOOKUP function performs a case-insensitive lookup. However, you can use the INDEX, MATCH and the EXACT function in Excel to perform a case-sensitive lookup.

Note: the formula correctly looks up the salary of MIA Reed, not Mia Clark.

Left Lookup

The VLOOKUP function only looks to the right. No worries, you can use the INDEX and the MATCH function in Excel to perform a left lookup.

Note: when we drag this formula down, the absolute references ($E$4:$E$7 and $G$4:$G$7) stay the same, while the relative reference (A2) changes to A3, A4, A5, etc.

Two-column Lookup

Do you want to look up a value based on multiple criteria? Use the INDEX and the MATCH function in Excel to perform a two-column lookup.

Note: the array formula above looks up the salary of James Clark, not James Smith, not James Anderson.

Closest Match

To find the closest match to a target value in a data column, use the INDEX, MATCH, ABS and the MIN function in Excel.

Post navigation

Previous Post:

VLOOKUP without #N/A error in Excel

Next Post:

How to Create Gantt Chart in Excel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn Basic Excel

Ribbon
Workbook
Worksheets
Format Cells
Find & Select
Sort & Filter
Templates
Print
Share
Protect
Keyboard Shortcuts

Categories

  • Charts
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Validation
  • Excel Functions
    • Cube Functions
    • Database Functions
    • Date and Time Functions
    • Engineering Functions
    • Financial Functions
    • Information Functions
    • Logical Functions
    • Lookup and Reference Functions
    • Math and Trig Functions
    • Statistical Functions
    • Text Functions
    • Web Functions
  • Excel VBA
  • Excel Video Tutorials
  • Formatting
  • Grouping
  • Others

Logical Functions

  • IFERROR function: Description, Usage, Syntax, Examples and Explanation
  • Invoice status with nested if in Excel
  • How to use Excel TRUE Function
  • How to use Excel XOR Function
  • How to return blank in place of #DIV/0! error in Excel

Date Time

  • Add days exclude certain days of week in Excel
  • Pad week numbers with zeros in Excel
  • NETWORKDAYS.INTL function: Description, Usage, Syntax, Examples and Explanation
  • Count birthdays by month in Excel
  • Count dates in current month in Excel

Grouping

  • If cell contains one of many things in Excel
  • Map text to numbers in Excel
  • Group times into unequal buckets in Excel
  • Group numbers at uneven intervals in Excel
  • Group times into 3 hour buckets in Excel

General

  • Creating and Opening an existing file in Excel
  • How to count total columns in range in Excel
  • How to set or clear a print area in Excel Worksheet
  • Subtotal invoices by age in Excel
  • Find, Trace and Correct Errors in Excel Formulas using ‘Formula Auditing’
© 2023 xlsoffice . All Right Reserved. | Teal Smiles | Abbreviations And Their Meaning