Want to know how to use the VLOOKUP function?
*** Watch our video and step by step guide below with free downloadable Excel workbook to practice ***
Watch it on YouTube and give it a thumbs-up!
What does it do?
Searches for a value in the first column of a table array and returns a value in the same row from another column (to the right) in the table array.
Formula breakdown:
=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
What it means:
=VLOOKUP(this value, in this list, and get me value in this column, Exact Match/FALSE/0])
Excel`s VLOOKUP function is arguably the most used function in Excel but can also be the most tricky one to understand. I will show you a VLOOKUP example and in a few steps you will be able to extract values from a table and use them to do your custom reports and analysis.
You will be using VLOOKUP with confidence after this tutorial!
STEP 1: We need to enter the VLOOKUP function in a blank cell:
=VLOOKUP(
STEP 2: The VLOOKUP arguments:
Lookup_value
What is the value that you want to look for?
In our first example, it will be Laptop, so select the Item name
=VLOOKUP(G15,
Table_array
What is the table or range that contains your data?
Make sure to select the stock list table so that our VLOOKUP formula will search here
=VLOOKUP(G15, B14:D17,
Ensure that you press F4 so that you can lock the table range.
=VLOOKUP(G15, $B$14:$D$17,
Col_index_num
What is the column that you want to retrieve the value from?
Since we want to get the price, our price is on the 2nd column of our source data
=VLOOKUP(G15, $B$14:$D$17, 2,
Range_lookup
What kind of matching do you need?
We want an exact match of the Laptop text so make sure FALSE is selected.
=VLOOKUP(G15, $B$14:$D$17, 2, FALSE)
Apply the same formula to the rest of the cells by dragging the lower right corner downwards.
You now have all of the results!
How to Use the VLOOKUP Formula in Excel
About The Author
very lucidly explained.
Hi Hareshkumar,
You are more than welcome. Keep on Excelling!
Kind Regards,
Bryan
Hello
Hey Josh,
Welcome to the MyExcelOnline blog!
Let me know if you have any questions, I’m here to help 🙂
Thanks,
John
I would like to be expert in Excel. Do you offer the full content of excel?
Hello Helda,
You can get the following Excel course which goes through all of Excel´s features by clicking on this link: http://www.mothresource.com/193-8.html
The course takes a beginner/intermediate Excel user and transforms them into an advanced user. It is provided by Mynda over at MyOnlineTrainingHub and she is a GREAT teacher!
I hope you find this online course helpful.
Thanks,
John
Yah! I would like to learn and be professional at excel and get free tips now and then.
Hello Rupika,
With each weekly lessons you will learn lots about Excel if you apply and practice what I teach you to your daily job.
In no time you too will be an Excel expert & more efficient user!
Cheers,
John
Asalm-o-alikum,
You are awesome man, i have learnt a lot from your excel tutorial while browsing youtube.
It encourage me to subscribe and learn more during online sessions then i visit https://www.myexcelonline.com/pivot-table-course.php
Here i only get some sample videos regarding Pivot Table. I learnt a lot from them.i desperate want remaining videos kindly help
me how can i get the remaining videos.
I have seen velookup lecture but your voice was not there. As your voice was missing it has become difficult to understand.
Hopping for your reply.
JazakALLAH.
Hello Aqib,
You can learn more about Pivot Tables by signing up to my Xtreme Pivot Table course which you can access here: https://www.myexcelonline.com/.thinkific.com/I will also add some videos on my blog tutorials which will include my voice very soon.
Thanks,
John
I have downloaded VLOOKUP Function: Introduction and I can see it working but can’t hear it. Do you talk during these?
I watched you on YouTube, your video on “how to learn pivot tables in 1 hour”. I’m needing to take a test on Excel for a job and pivot tables and Vlookup are crucial to the job and I have no idea how to do them. This video helped so much, Thank You.
I was thinking if I took your course maybe I wouldn’t have to do Accounts Payable anymore, maybe there are business out there looking for Excel experts. What do you think?
Thanks so much for being on YouTube!
Diana
Hello Diana,
With the animated gifs I do not talk in these, I only show the screen and put some written instructions.
You can have a look at more Vlookup tutorial here: https://www.myexcelonline.com/?s=vlookup
The key is to practice until you get comfortable with it, so you can go into your job interview with confidence.
With my Xtreme Pivot Table Course I am sure that after taking this class that you will have a better opportunity to get a promotion or a new job. Analyzing data and making reports out of data is what most finance analysts do and there is huge demand for this kind of role. Pivot Tables help you a lot in this respect.
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
John
Question: Copying the formula – when you made a lookup in one field then you just used black cross to copy it to the field below (tablet). When I try do that I copy the value and when I right click it I get 3 auto fill options: copy cells, fill formatting only, fill without formatting). It looks like I cannot choose the option to copy/paste a formula. It is probably some setup somewhere. But where?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Isidora,
You are using the right mouse button and then dragging the formula down. You need to use the left mouse button to drag the formula down.
I hope that helps you out.
Thanks,
John
