How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel (free file included)

Excel VLOOKUP is one of the most essential functions in Excel. In this tutorial for beginners you'll learn how to properly use Excel VLOOKUP without mistakes. You’ll learn how to quickly find information from different sheets, get exact or closest matches, and troubleshoot common errors. VLOOKUP Excel saves you time and reduces mistakes by automating data searches across your spreadsheets.

00:00 VLOOKUP Excel
00:50 How to Do a VLOOKUP Formula
05:29 VLOOKUP Across Sheets
07:09 VLOOKUP Approximate Match
09:14 VLOOKUP Not Working
11:29 NA Error in VLOOKUP
12:18 Get rid of NA Error in VLOOKUP
14:31 XLOOKUP Excel

We start with the basics: how to do a VLOOKUP to find related information, like a customer’s profession from another dataset. You’ll learn how to set up your data range correctly and discover the importance of fixing the table array to avoid shifting ranges when copying formulas. This practical VLOOKUP example shows you the essentials of how to use VLOOKUP effectively.

We also dive into advanced VLOOKUP techniques, including how to use VLOOKUP across different sheets, how to find exact matches with the FALSE parameter, and how to handle approximate matches efficiently. Plus, we tackle common VLOOKUP errors and show you how to correct them using simple adjustments and functions like TRIM and IFNA.

By the end of this video, you'll be equipped to use the VLOOKUP formula confidently. You’ll understand why it’s a go-to tool for Excel users seeking to streamline their data analysis tasks.

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#Excel

[jon]

Really appreciate how you broke down the importance of using 'FALSE' for exact matches in VLOOKUP. It’s one of those things you don’t realize the impact of until you get those frustrating errors.

[jpv]

After so many years using Excel, I thought I knew the VLOOKUP function... there's always something new one can learn.

[christianwibowo]

Years using vlookup and still you can teach something new, that approximate function really blows my mind, thanks a lot Leila, you are The best

[wmfield]

All one needs to know to use VLOOKUP correctly. Thanks Leila for this quality presentation.

[golden-joeosegbe]

Thank you Leila. You are indeed a great teacher. I have never gotten VLookup right all my career no matter how many demos I've watched. Thanks a million.

[jerry]

You are always so concise and professional!

[ronschenk]

Good Morning Leila. I am a consultant for a major phone company and work with spreadsheets daily. I have to THANK YOU for all your extremely informative videos. Any time I have formula issue I go straight to your YouTube site to solve it. I cant tell you how many times I have been on here since getting into Excel. THANK YOU again and can't wait for the next video!!

[JatinChaudhary]

"The range that contains our lookup value must be in the left hand side of value" in this case left to Profession. Thank you for this detail as no other video explains or bring out this point specifically. And I was struggling with this situation and finally found the answer in your video. And my formula worked properly. Thank you so much. Appreciate.

[phongluunguyen]

Thank you, your lessons is probably the most easy to understand on Youtube, thank you so much ♥

[happymystic]

Nicely explained and a great reminder of the basics of this function which also supports the principal understanding of how Excel functions typically work. Judging some of the complaining comments tells me that even VLOOKUP is way too complex for them.

[MrsJerjev]

Thank you very much for your time and patience in explaining the ins and outs of the spreadsheet. I am grateful.

[vijayarjunwadkar]

Hmmm, finally the "Thursday" video back after long time! Thanks Leila! 🙂
You explained it in your unique style making it easy to understand by anyone. While I "knew" most of it, I did pick up a "new" thing or two for sure! Keep those coming...

[anjelas]

Feels like we are going back in time...
I thought this was an old video...
Surprised to see it was posted 4 hours ago

[prachidugal]

Trim & IfNa are the new takeaways for me. Thank you Leila.

[vincentcollin]

As clear as ever! And as understandable as ever for a French person!

[bheardnow]

Never thought of using Trim in the lookup value. Thanks!

[simplicity-_-]

Your vids always so informative. Thanks. I've been using vlookup for years, but I learned from this vid the use of 0/1 instead of FALSE/TRUE, and that trim function usage will defo help in huge database.
Thanks again ... <3

[syedal-mehedyhasan]

Learnt a lot from you videos, Thanks. ❤

[aleksandrsaleksandrs]

You are fantastic! Thank you so much, your lessons are the most precise and I was able to understand this function only because of your approach. Fantastic!❤

[walternyaga]

I have followed you explanation..it worked. thank so much for good work. God bless!!