How to use Excel LOOKUP Function
This Excel tutorial explains how to use the LOOKUP function with syntax and examples.
Excel LOOKUP function Description
The Microsoft Excel LOOKUP function returns a value from a range (one row or one column) or from an array.
The LOOKUP function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Lookup/Reference Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the LOOKUP function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.
Explanation: Based on the example above, the LOOKUP function would return:
=LOOKUP(10251, A1:A6, B1:B6) Result: "Pears" =LOOKUP(10251, A1:A6) Result: 10251 =LOOKUP(10246, A1:A6, B1:B6) Result: #N/A =LOOKUP(10248, A1:A6, B1:B6) Result: "Apples"
There are 2 different syntaxes for the LOOKUP function:
LOOKUP Function (Syntax #1)
In Syntax #1, the LOOKUP function searches for value in the lookup_range and returns the value in the result_range that is in the same position.
The syntax for the LOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel is:
LOOKUP( value, lookup_range, [result_range] )
Arguments
- value
- The value to search for in the lookup_range.
- lookup_range
- A single row or single column of data that is sorted in ascending order. The LOOKUP function searches for value in this range.
- result_range
- Optional. It is a single row or single column of data that is the same size as the lookup_range. The LOOKUP function searches for the value in the lookup_range and returns the value from the same position in the result_range. If this parameter is omitted, it will return the first column of data.
Returns
The LOOKUP function returns any datatype such as a string, numeric, date, etc.
If the LOOKUP function can not find an exact match, it chooses the largest value in the lookup_range that is less than or equal to the value.
If the value is smaller than all of the values in the lookup_range, then the LOOKUP function will return #N/A.
If the values in the LOOKUP_range are not sorted in ascending order, the LOOKUP function will return the incorrect value.
LOOKUP Function (Syntax #2)
In Syntax #2, the LOOKUP function searches for the value in the first row or column of the array and returns the corresponding value in the last row or column of the array.
The syntax for the LOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel is:
LOOKUP( value, array )
Arguments
- value
- The value to search for in the array. The values must be in ascending order.
- array
- An array of values that contains both the values to search for and return.
Returns
The LOOKUP function returns any datatype such as a string, numeric, date, etc.
If the LOOKUP function can not find an exact match, it chooses the largest value in the lookup_range that is less than or equal to the value.
If the value is smaller than all of the values in the lookup_range, then the LOOKUP function will return #N/A.
If the values in the array are not sorted in ascending order, the LOOKUP function will return the incorrect value.