How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel (Step by Step), by Dmitry Lambert on YouTube. 2 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lay out your data so the ID you search for sits in the first column of the table, with the name and price in columns to its right.
Click the cell where the result should appear and type =VLOOKUP( to start the formula.
Type the lookup value: the cell holding the ID you want to find, then a comma.
Select the table range from the ID column to the last column with data, then type a comma.
Type the column number you want back, counting the ID column as 1, then a comma.
Type FALSE for an exact match, close the bracket and press Enter to see the result.
Put dollar signs in the range, like $A$2:$C$100, then drag the fill handle down to copy the formula to the rest of the list.
Wrap the formula in IFERROR to show a friendly message when an ID is missing, for example =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,$A$2:$C$100,2,FALSE),"Not found").
Tips and common mistakes
Always type FALSE (or 0) as the fourth argument, or VLOOKUP assumes an approximate match and can return the wrong row instead of an error.
VLOOKUP only looks to the right, so the ID column must be the leftmost column of your range.
Press F4 after selecting the range to add the dollar signs in one keystroke.
Change the ID in the lookup cell to test the formula before you copy it down.
Questions
Why does my VLOOKUP return the wrong value?
You most likely left out FALSE, so Excel matched the nearest value instead of an exact one. It can also happen if the table range is not locked and shifts as you copy the formula down.
Can VLOOKUP look to the left?
No. It searches the first column of your range and returns values from columns to the right. Use INDEX and MATCH or XLOOKUP if you need to look left.
What does the column number mean?
It is the position of the column you want, counted from the first column of your range and starting at 1. So the second column in the range is 2.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
