Excel / 6 min read
VLOOKUP Formula Examples That Actually Work
Use VLOOKUP for exact-match lookups, price tables, ID matching, and safe fallback results in Excel and Google Sheets.
VLOOKUP is still useful for straightforward vertical lookup tables. The safest default is exact match with a clearly defined first-column key.
Check this first
- Use FALSE for exact-match lookups unless approximate mode is intentional.
- Make sure the lookup key is in the first column of the table array.
- Check for text-number mismatches and trailing spaces.
- Lock the table range if the formula will be copied down.
Working examples
Exact-match VLOOKUP
=VLOOKUP(A2, $F$2:$G$20, 2, FALSE)Return blank instead of #N/A for missing optional matches
=IFNA(VLOOKUP(A2, $F$2:$G$20, 2, FALSE), "")Why VLOOKUP still matters
Even though XLOOKUP is better in many cases, VLOOKUP remains everywhere in existing workbooks, shared templates, and tutorials. People still search it because they are maintaining real sheets that already depend on it.
That makes VLOOKUP a strong SEO target and a practical skill to explain clearly.
The default that avoids most mistakes
Use exact match with FALSE unless you are intentionally using a sorted range for approximate lookups. Many bad results come from leaving the last argument vague or using a table where the key is not actually in the first column.
- Put the lookup key in the leftmost column.
- Use FALSE for most everyday use cases.
- Lock the range when copying formulas.
When VLOOKUP is the wrong tool
If the return column is to the left of the key, or if the workbook needs more resilient logic, use XLOOKUP or INDEX MATCH instead. Choosing the right lookup pattern often removes the need for later troubleshooting.