How to Use INDEX MATCH

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Any legitimate Excel user has used VLOOKUP and knows the syntax by heart.  (Lookup Value, Array, Column, etc.)  But many of these same users have never used INDEX MATCH before.  INDEX MATCH is one of several lookup formulas available in Excel.  It has certain features that make it superior to VLOOKUP in many situations.  Regardless of which method you think is better, (I have my opinion) it is definitely worth it to learn both formulas and have both at your disposal.

Click here for a detailed explanation of why INDEX MATCH is better than VLOOKUP

Please note that INDEX MATCH is designed for vertical lookups, which is the task that VLOOKUP performs.  If you need to perform a matrix lookup, consider using one of the more powerful Excel lookup formula combinations such as INDEX MATCH MATCH, OFFSET MATCH MATCH, VLOOKUP MATCH, or VLOOKUP HLOOKUP.

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The VLOOKUP function

First our point of reference: the trusty VLOOKUP formula.  VLOOKUP returns a VALUE based on a defined array and column reference.  The syntax from Excel is as follows:

=VLOOKUP ( lookup value , lookup array , column , range lookup )

Below is an example of using VLOOKUP to return the value “Shirts” based on the lookup value “1089.”  (Please note that, because we input false for that portion of the syntax, we are not using the range lookup feature of VLOOKUP in this example)

Our goal was to lookup the Product of ID “1089” and VLOOKUP did that without a hitch.  So how does INDEX MATCH replicate that functionality?

The INDEX function

The basic INDEX function returns a VALUE based on a defined array / column and a row number.  The syntax from Excel is as follows:

=INDEX ( array , row number )

Below is an example of using INDEX to return the value “Shirts,” assuming that you already know that the value is three cells down on your defined array.

(you also have the option to specify column number, but that isn’t relevant in a basic INDEX MATCH formula)

If you go 3 cells down in the INDEX array, you get the value “Shirts.”  But the problem we have when trying to do a lookup is that we typically don’t know what position our return value is located, which in this case is 3.  The “3” needs to come from another formula.

The MATCH function

The basic MATCH function returns a NUMBER based on the relative position of a lookup value within a defined array / column.  The syntax from Excel is as follows:

=MATCH (  lookup value , lookup array , match type )

Below is an example of using the MATCH formula to return the position of “1089” within our column reference.

Since “1089” is three cells down in the array, the value “3” is returned.

INDEX MATCH

When we combine both the INDEX formula and the MATCH formula, the number that the MATCH formula returns becomes the row number for your INDEX formula.

=INDEX ( array , MATCH formula )

Below is an example of using the INDEX MATCH to return “Product Type” for our lookup value.

As you can see, it returns the same value we got from VLOOKUP.

Differences Between the Formulas

One of the key difference with INDEX MATCH is that, rather than selecting an entire array table, you are only selecting the lookup column and the return column of what would be a VLOOKUP array.  While not a big deal when it comes to simple lookups, this can definitely become a factor if you are dealing with large files that have thousands of lookups.  By limiting your arrays to only the lookup and return columns, you reduce the processing load on Excel.  The difference is illustrated below.

The other key difference is that INDEX MATCH formulas work as a right to left lookup, whereas VLOOKUP only works left to right.  As you can see in the example below, I can use INDEX MATCH to lookup a value that is to the right of my return value using INDEX MATCH.  This is not possible with the VLOOKUP formula, as you would have to rearrange your data set, or copy your lookup column so that it is always to the left of your return value.

I reversed our formula by looking up the ID of the “Shirts” Product Type.  I just changed our lookup value and swapped the lookup and return columns.

Remembering It All

A lot of Excel websites do a poor job of explaining how to use INDEX MATCH.  I’m not saying my way is any better, but here’s any easy way to remember how to use the formula, if you don’t want to mess with the detailed explanations and know how to use VLOOKUP.  Here’s how I think about the formula as I’m typing it in:

=INDEX ( Column I want a return value from , MATCH ( My Lookup Value , Column I want to Lookup against , Enter “0” ))

If you’re still having trouble with INDEX MATCH, click here to learn about the most common mistakes made when using the formula combination

378 thoughts on “How to Use INDEX MATCH”

  2. I’ve tried to learn index + match from other sites, but only when i got to your site did i actually understand it. Thank you very much for this excellent tutorial!

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  9. I am trying to figure out how to reference a specific value from a cell that specifies a formula.
    Let’s say I have a total of 6 data points, but only use 4 of them to make the curve depending on if I want the lowest or highest values. I want to be able to have a separate cell that spits out the value of the lowest data point used for the slope calibration.

    For example my x-values are in A1-6, and the y-values are in B1-6
    so in my first cell I have the formula “=slope(B1:4, A1:4)” so that I am only calculating the slope based on the 4 lowest data points.

    I want a second cell that references the lowest y-value used based on the range specified in the slope formula.So if my slope is “=slope(B1:4, A1:4)” the result will be the value in B1, but if I change my slope to be “=slope(B3:6, A3:6)” the result will be the value in B3.

    Hopefully that makes sense. Please help!

  12. hi..

    i need a help here. Can index match be used to search multiple data in multiple sheets?
    if so, you please explain.

  19. The easiest explanation ever. I was really put off using this function however it’s so easy after your explanation. Many thanks for that.

  24. A trick I use to “remember it all”: First, enter just the MATCH formula. When you get a column of numbers, you’ll know you did it correctly. Then, go into the cell and insert the INDEX formula; the “Column I want a return value from” will be first, then the Match formula you already entered.)

    Or, if you like, enter the Match formula in one column, and the Index formula in the column next to it, referring to the Match column.

  27. Thank you for describing the values in plain English – that was SO useful to me. I spend a lot of time thinking ‘hang on, what is an array? I thought the table was an array!’ and ‘wait, which one is the lookup value again?!’ I’ve successfully looked up some relevant payment codes.

  28. Hello,

    I need help to find a excel formula, which can return the value “Jx” for any interrogation “Py & Dx”.

    Bellow you will find the global table, where are all input data (is an manual table).
    Table J1 J2 J3 J4 J5
    P1 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5
    P2 D5 D1 D2 D3 D4
    P3 D4 D5 D1 D2 D3
    P4 D3 D4 D5 D1 D2
    P5 D2 D3 D4 D5 D1

    The formula that I need, is to return me the values “J” for the project “P” at date “D”.
    Test 1 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5
    P3 J3 J4 J5 J1 J2

    Test 2 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5
    P1 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5

    General (schematically) form of my question:
    B
    A C

    C
    A ??? Formula to return B

    Thank you in advance for your help!!!

    Have a nice day!!!

  32. I fully agree with the others. This is the best explanation I could find anywhere on the Web on how the INDEX and MATCH functions could be used as an alternative to VLOOKUP. Because you’ve used simple and small data sets, it’s really easy to figure out which cells are involved and what the formulas are working on.

    Thanks a lot for this…I’ve saved this page in my browser favorites at work in case I happen to forget how to use the formulas.

  34. I have gone through some other sites but i didnt understand logic behind the match, now i understand cleartly with perfect example, thanks a lot keep posting new stuff with simple and easy examples.. and i have another question at the same time i need to pick the latest date with multiple columns all at a time by doing this Index and Match… can you post with and example.

    waiting for your post ..

  35. Hi Guys,

    i have below data with me, i need one formula that returns row value in single formula.

    A B C D E
    Nakul 100 120 130 140
    Sohan 240 251 273 249
    Sharad 359 354 341 371

    For Example
    100 Nakul
    120 Nakul
    130 Nakul
    140 Nakul
    240 Sohan
    251 Sohan
    273 Sohan
    249 Sohan
    359 Sharad
    354 Sharad
    341 Sharad
    371 Sharad

    Can you guys please help

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  43. Don’t like #N/A or 0 all over your sheets when the reference is not available or the result is a blank cell? Want to be able to drag or copy your formula all over the page? Try this noting where the $ are and where they are not. =IF(IFERROR(INDEX(Sheet3!D$2:D$380,MATCH(‘CFI LIST’!$D6,Sheet3!$B$2:$B$380,0)),””)=0,””,IFERROR(INDEX(Sheet3!D$2:D$380,MATCH(‘CFI LIST’!$D6,Sheet3!$B$2:$B$380,0)),””)) The IFERROR gets rid of the #N/A result and the IF gets rid of the 0’s.

  46. Thank you so much. Perfect for immediate application (summary) as well as fundamental understanding (breakdown)!

  48. Hi,

    Fantastic article and very down to earth way of explaining the ever- dreaded index /Match formula.
    I have been using index and match for years…and I could not have explained it as u did. In fact I would have said it had only the right to left lookup advantage, I never thought of the time saving and quicker processing advantage , using lookup and return columns only, rather than table array.

    Kudos…I doff my hat to you.

  49. Can this be used with and And/Or Statement? Say with drop down lists, namely
    1) Division
    2) Branch
    3) Employee
    4) Project

    Could this formula be manipulated to find data for all criteria shown in the dropdowns while not considering any dropdown that is blank. For example: If I chose the division and branch tab, it would give me all data for both, which would include all data for Employee and Project. But, If I wanted to go back and just find the data for the Division and the Project, I could get that too. I’m having a hard time understanding how to get this to work, especially without a V or H lookup.

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