# VLOOKUP

Returns a value from a table by looking up a value in the first column and returning a value from the specified column

## Syntax

```
VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup], [value_if_not_found])
```

## Arguments

| Argument            | Description                                                                   | Required |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| `lookup_value`     | The value to search for in the first column of the table                     | Required |
| `table_array`      | The table to search in                                                        | Required |
| `col_index_num`    | The column number in the table to return a value from                        | Required |
| `range_lookup`     | TRUE for approximate match, FALSE for exact match. Defaults to TRUE.         | Optional |
| `value_if_not_found` | Value to return if lookup value is not found. Defaults to error.           | Optional |

## Examples

### Find product price by ID

=VLOOKUP(2, A1:C3, 3, false)

Result ⇒19.99

|     |     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | A   | B     | C     |
| 1 | 1   | Widget | 9.99  |
| 2 | 2   | Gadget | 19.99 |
| 3 | 3   | Tool   | 29.99 |

### Lookup employee department

=VLOOKUP("Jane", A1:B3, 2, false)

Result ⇒Marketing

|     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | A   | B         |
| 1 | John | Sales     |
| 2 | Jane | Marketing |
| 3 | Bob  | IT        |

### Grade lookup with approximate match

=VLOOKUP(85, A1:B4, 2, true)

Result ⇒B

|     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | A   | B   |
| 1 | 60 | D   |
| 2 | 70 | C   |
| 3 | 80 | B   |
| 4 | 90 | A   |

### Three arguments (defaults to approximate match)

=VLOOKUP(25, A1:B3, 2)

Result ⇒Medium

|     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | A    | B      |
| 1 | 10   | Small  |
| 2 | 20   | Medium |
| 3 | 30   | Large  |

### Custom value when not found

=VLOOKUP("Z", A1:B3, 2, false, "Not Found")

Result ⇒Not Found

|     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | A   | B      |
| 1 | A   | Alpha   |
| 2 | B   | Beta    |
| 3 | C   | Charlie |

## Related Functions

Other Data functions:

- [CHOOSE](/content/docs/formulas/choose.html) - Uses index to return a value from the list of value arguments
- [COLUMN](/content/docs/formulas/column.html) - Returns the column number of the current cell context.
- [DROP](/content/docs/formulas/drop.html) - Drops the first N rows and optionally first N columns from an array. Returns an error if the result would be empty.
- [FILTER](/content/docs/formulas/filter.html) - Returns a filtered array containing only rows that match the criteria
- [GROUPBY](/content/docs/formulas/groupby.html) - Groups data by a key and applies an aggregator function to each group
- [HLOOKUP](/content/docs/formulas/hlookup.html) - Returns the corresponding value from the specified row of table which matches exactly or approximately to the first row of the table.
- [HSTACK](/content/docs/formulas/hstack.html) - Horizontally stacks arrays by appending columns
- [INDEX](/content/docs/formulas/index.html) - Returns a cell value from a list or table based on its column and row numbers.
- [LAST](/content/docs/formulas/last.html) - Returns the last N rows and optionally last N columns from an array. Returns an error if the result would be empty.
- [MAP](/content/docs/formulas/map.html) - Processes each row in an array with a formula including a COL or CELL keyword and returns it as a 2D array.
- [MATCH](/content/docs/formulas/match.html) - Returns the position of the item/lookup_value in the lookup_array or range.
- [PICK](/content/docs/formulas/pick.html) - Selects specific columns from an array using column numbers or header names
- [ROW](/content/docs/formulas/row.html) - Returns the 1-indexed row number of the current cell
- [SEQUENCE](/content/docs/formulas/sequence.html) - Returns the list of generated sequential numbers in an array.
- [SORT](/content/docs/formulas/sort.html) - Sorts the values in a range or array.
- [SORTBY](/content/docs/formulas/sortby.html) - Sorts a range or array based on values in one or more corresponding ranges or arrays.
- [TAKE](/content/docs/formulas/take.html) - Returns the first N rows and optionally first N columns from an array. Returns an error if the result would be empty.
- [TRANSPOSE](/content/docs/formulas/transpose.html) - Returns the result after transposing the rows and columns of an array or range.
- [UNIQUE](/content/docs/formulas/unique.html) - Returns a list of unique values in a list or range.
- [VSTACK](/content/docs/formulas/vstack.html) - Vertically stacks arrays by appending rows
- [XLOOKUP](/content/docs/formulas/xlookup.html) - Searches a range or array for a match and returns the corresponding item from a second range or array. Supports exact and approximate matching, wildcards, and reverse search.