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Lookup & ReferenceLevel 3: Yellow (Core Formulas & Logic)Difficulty: Beginner
How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel
The industry-standard vertical lookup function that searches the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row.
Formula Syntax
=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, range_lookup)
Arguments Breakdown
| Argument | Requirement | Purpose & Details |
|---|---|---|
| lookup_value | Required | The value to find in the first column of your table. |
| table_array | Required | The table range containing data, starting with the lookup column. |
| col_index_num | Required | The column number in the table from which to retrieve data (starting at 1). |
| range_lookup | Optional | FALSE (or 0) for exact match, TRUE (or 1) for approximate match. |
Step-by-Step Practical Business Example
Suppose you have the following dataset in Excel cells A1:D4:
| Item Code | Product | Unit Price | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-01 | Wireless Mouse | ₹799 | 120 |
| P-02 | Mechanical Keyboard | ₹2,499 | 45 |
| P-03 | USB-C Hub | ₹1,299 | 80 |
Applied Formula:Result: ₹2,499
=VLOOKUP("P-02", A2:D4, 3, FALSE)
How it works: Finds 'P-02' in the 1st column and pulls the unit price from the 3rd column.
Common Errors & How to Fix Them
#REF!
Why it happens: The col_index_num exceeds the number of columns in your table_array.
Fix: Verify your column index number is within the range bounds of the table.
#N/A
Why it happens: Exact match failed or lookup column was not the leftmost column in table_array.
Fix: Ensure the searched value exists and always keep the search column as column 1, or upgrade to XLOOKUP.
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