How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel

The VLOOKUP function enables you to search for a value in one column and return another from the same row in a different column. As it works from top to bottom, the ‘V’ stands for vertical.

Arguably, it’s the most famous function in Excel and one of the first you’ll learn. It has been ever-present since the program’s birth in 1985!

This article explains how to use it and the options it provides.

CONTENTS
 
· Download Workbook
· Syntax
· The Basics
  ∘ Standard VLOOKUP
  ∘ Only the First Match Is Returned
  ∘ Column Positions Matter
  ∘ Right to Left Lookup (1)
  ∘ Right to Left Lookup (2)
· Approximate Match
· Errors
· Wildcards
· Case Sensitivity
  ∘ Case-Insensitive Lookup
  ∘ Case-Sensitive Lookup
· Final Words

Download Workbook

This file contains all the examples explained in the article.

💾 VLOOKUP-Examples.xlsb

Syntax

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

All arguments are required except [range_lookup].