Looks through a sorted row or column for a key and returns the value of the cell in a result range located in the same position as the search row or column.

Sample Usage

LOOKUP(10003, A1:A100, B1:B100)

LOOKUP(10003, A1:B100)

LOOKUP("foo", A1:Z10)


LOOKUP(search_key, search_range|search_result_array, [result_range])

  • search_key - The value to search for in the row or column. For example, 42, "Cats", or I24.
  • search_range|search_result_array - One method of using LOOKUP is to provide a single row or column search_range to look through for the search with a second argument result_range. The other way is to combine these two arguments into one search_result_array where the first row or column is searched and a value is returned from the last row or column in the array.
  • result_range - [ OPTIONAL ] - The range from which to return a result. The value returned corresponds to the location where search_key is found in search_range. This range must be only a single row or column and should not be used if using the search_result_array method.


The LOOKUP function will only work properly if data in search_range or search_result_array is sorted. Use VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, or other related functions if data is not sorted.

If search_key is not found, the item used in the lookup will be the value that’s immediately smaller in the range provided. For example, if the data set contains the numbers 1, 3, 5 and search_key is 2, then 1 will be used for the lookup.

In the search_result_array method, the last row or column in the provided range is returned. If a different row or column is desired, use VLOOKUP or HLOOKUP instead.

When using the search_result_array method, if the range provided contains more columns than rows, then the search will be from left to right over the first row in the range. If the range contains an equal number of rows and columns or more rows than columns, then the search will be from top to bottom over the first column in the range.


This examples shows the price of part number 126.

Part Number Price Formula Result
105 $27.50 =LOOKUP(126, $A$2:$A$6, $B$2:$B$6) $33.00
126 $33.00    
133 $41.75    
171 $26.75    
188 $32.99    


This examples shows when the search_key is not found (student ID 765333), a non-exact match may be returned.

Part Number Price Formula Result
764541 B =LOOKUP(765333,$A$2:$A$5,$B$2:$B$5) C
764598 C    
765444 B-    
766765 A    

See Also

VLOOKUP: Vertical lookup. Searches down the first column of a range for a key and returns the value of a specified cell in the row found.

HLOOKUP: Horizontal lookup. Searches across the first row of a range for a key and returns the value of a specified cell in the column found.

MATCH: Returns the relative position of an item in a range that matches a specified value.

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