How to use the XLOOKUP function

This article demonstrates how to use the XLOOKUP function in Excel 365.

1. XLOOKUP function - example

The XLOOKUP function lets you search one column for a search value, and return a corresponding value in another column from the same row.

Formula in cell F2:

The image above demonstrates the XLOOKUP function in cell F2, it uses a search value specified in cell E3 and searches column B.

A match is found in cell B5 and the corresponding value from column C is returned in cell F3.

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2. XLOOKUP Function Syntax

XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

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3. XLOOKUP Function Arguments

 

lookup_value	Required. The value you want to look up.
lookup_array	Required. This is a cell range or an array that you want to search.
return_array	Required. This is a cell range or an array that you want to return a result from.
[if_not_found]	Optional. A given text string is returned if a valid match is not found. #N/A is returned if this argument is omitted and a valid match is not found.
[match_mode]	Optional. Match setting: 0 - Exact match. Return #N/A if no valid match is found. (Default) -1 - Exact match. Return the next smaller item if no valid match is found. 1 - Exact match. Return the next larger item if no valid match is found. 2 - Wildcard match * - Any number of characters. Example, *son matches both "Johnson" and "Wilson" but not "Jones". ? - Any single character. Example, ?n matches both "in" and "on" but not "off". ~ (tilde) followed by ?, *, or ~ - Example, How~? matches How?.
[search_mode]	Optional. Search setting: 1 - Search starting at the first item. (Default) -1 - Reverse search starting at the last item. 2 - Binary search, lookup_array must be sorted in ascending order. -2 - Binary search, lookup_array must be sorted in descending order.

 

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4. XLOOKUP video

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5. How to return multiple values - XLOOKUP function

The formula below demonstrates the XLOOKUP function returning more values from the same row.

Formula in cell C6:

The return_array (3rd argument) contains two columns in this example. The lookup value is found in cell B8 and the corresponding values are in cell range C8:D8.

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6. How to search horizontally - XLOOKUP function

This example demonstrates how to lookup a value horizontally using the XLOOKUP function and return the corresponding value from the same column.

Search value "Milano" is found in cell E2 and the formula returns value "C" from row three in the same column.

Formula in cell C6:

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7. How to find the last match - reverse search

The image above shows the XLOOKUP function in cell C3, it searches cell range B6:B12 starting at the last value.

There are two matches cells B8 and B11, however, the search starts at the last value and the first matching value is in cell B11. The corresponding value is in cell C11.

Formula in cell C3:

The last argument lets you choose the search mode.

XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

-1 : Reverse search starting at the last item.

This article explains how to do it in earlier Excel versions: Find last matching value in an unsorted table

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8. How to do a binary xlookup

This example demonstrates how to do a binary lookup using the XLOOKUP function.

Make sure the lookup_array is sorted appropriately based on the chosen value in the last argument.

Formula in cell C3:

The last argument lets you choose the search mode.

XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

2 : Binary search, lookup_array must be sorted in ascending order.

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9. How to do a wildcard xlookup

The image above demonstrates how to do a wildcard lookup using the XLOOKUP function.

The asterisk matches any number of characters. M* matches both Milano and Madrid, however, Milano is the first match in the list. The corresponding value is "C" and that is returned in cell F3.

Formula in cell C3:

The second last argument lets you choose the match mode.

XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

* - Any number of characters.

? - Any single character.

~ (tilde) followed by ?, *, or ~

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11. Search values distributed horizontally and return corresponding values

This is a question from Using array formula to look up multiple values in a list

Answer:

Array formula in cell B8:

To enter an array formula, type the formula in a cell then press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously, now press Enter once. Release all keys.

The formula bar now shows the formula with a beginning and ending curly bracket telling you that you entered the formula successfully. Don't enter the curly brackets yourself.

Explaining formula in cell B8

Step 1 - Check if lookup value is equal to values in cell range C2:I2

The IF function has three arguments, the first one must be a logical expression. If the expression evaluates to TRUE then one thing happens (argument 2) and if FALSE another thing happens (argument 3). The following lines explain the logical expression:

$C$2:$I$2=$C$5

becomes

{2012,2008,2011,2012,2014,2013,2012}=2012

and returns

{TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE}

Step 2 - Return corresponding column number

The column number will help us identify the values we want to return from another row. TRUE - corresponding column number, FALSE - nothing "".

IF($C$2:$I$2=$C$5, MATCH(COLUMN($C$2:$I$2), COLUMN($C$2:$I$2)), "")

becomes

IF({TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE}, MATCH(COLUMN($C$2:$I$2), COLUMN($C$2:$I$2)), "")

becomes

IF({TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE}, {1,2,3,4,5,6,7}, "")

and returns

{1,"","",4,"","",7}.

Step 3 - Extract k-th smallest column number

To be able to return a new value in a cell each I use the SMALL function to filter column numbers from smallest to largest.

The ROWS function keeps track of the numbers based on an expanding cell reference. It will expand as the formula is copied to the cells below.

SMALL(IF($C$2:$I$2=$C$5, MATCH(COLUMN($C$2:$I$2), COLUMN($C$2:$I$2)), ""), ROWS($A$1:A1))

becomes

SMALL({1,"","",4,"","",7}, ROWS($A$1:A1))

becomes

SMALL({1,"","",4,"","",7}, 1)

and returns 1.

Step 4 - Return value based on column number

The INDEX function returns a value based on a cell reference and column/row numbers.

INDEX($C$3:$I$3, SMALL(IF($C$2:$I$2=$C$5, MATCH(COLUMN($C$2:$I$2), COLUMN($C$2:$I$2)), ""), ROWS($A$1:A1)))

becomes

INDEX($C$3:$I$3, 1)

becomes

INDEX({140,200,670,510,200,690,170}, 1)

and returns 140 in cell B8.

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12. Filter values distributed horizontally - Excel 365

The FILTER function is capable to filter values arranged horizontally as well, the TRANSPOSE function rearranges the result vertically.

Excel 365 formula in cell B8:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Logical test

The equal sign is a logical operator, it allows you to compare value to value. The result is a boolean value TRUE or FALSE.

C2:I2=C5

becomes

{2012,2008,2011,2012,2014,2013,2012}=2012

and returns

{TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE}.

Step 2 - Filter values

The FILTER function extracts values/rows based on a condition or criteria.

Function syntax: FILTER(array, include, [if_empty])

FILTER(C3:I3,C2:I2=C5)

becomes

FILTER({140, 200, 670, 510, 200, 690, 170},{TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE})

and returns

{140, 510, 170}.

Step 3 - Transpose values

The TRANSPOSE function converts a vertical range to a horizontal range, or vice versa.

Function syntax: TRANSPOSE(array)

TRANSPOSE(FILTER(C3:I3,C2:I2=C5))

becomes

TRANSPOSE({140, 510, 170})

and returns

{140; 510; 170}.

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Useful links

XLOOKUP function - Microsoft
How To Use the XLOOKUP Function in Excel

 

'XLOOKUP' function examples

Functions in 'Lookup and reference' category

The XLOOKUP function function is one of 25 functions in the 'Lookup and reference' category.

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