12/20/2016

Excelformula:VLOOKUPwithtwoormorecriteria|Exceljet
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VLOOKUP with two or more criteria

Generic formula
= VLOOKUP(val1 & val2,data,col_index,0)

Related formulas
VLOOKUP with 2 lookup tables
Two-way lookup with VLOOKUP
Calculate grades with VLOOKUP
Get employee information with VLOOKUP
Merge tables with VLOOKUP
VLOOKUP without #N/A error

Explanation
One of the limitations of VLOOKUP is that it only handles one condition: the lookup_value, which is matched against the rst column in
the table.
This makes it dif cult to use VLOOKUP to nd a value in a table based on two or more columns in a table. However, if you have control
over the source data, there's a simple workaround you can use to allow VLOOKUP to handle multiple criteria.
https://exceljet.net/formula/vlookupwithtwoormorecriteria

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Excelformula:VLOOKUPwithtwoormorecriteria|Exceljet

The trick is to add a helper column that concatenates 2 more more values together, then give VLOOKUP a lookup value that does the
same.
In the example, we want to lookup employee department and group using VLOOKUP, but rst and last names appear separately, so we
don't have a direct way of using both rst and last name in the lookup. The solution is to use a helper column to combine them, then
use the helper column to perform the lookup.
The VLOOKUP formula itself looks like this, where data is a named range that includes the data portion of the table
= VLOOKUP(C3 & D3,data,4,0)
In column B, the helper column, the a formula joins rst name and last name together using concatenation:
= C6 & D6
The First name comes from column C and the Last name from column D.

How this formula works

The helper column joins values from columns that are used as criteria. It must be the rst column of the table, and functions as a "key".
Inside the VLOOKUP function, the lookup value itself is also created by joining the same criteria.

Setting things up
To set up a multiple criteria VLOOKUP, follow these 3 steps:
1. Add a helper column and concatenate (join) values from columns you want to use for your criteria.
2. Set up a VLOOKUP formula that refers to a table that includes the helper column. The helper column must be the rst column in
the table.
3. For the lookup value, join the same criteria in the same order to match values in the helper column.

Related functions
Excel VLOOKUP Function

Related videos
How to use VLOOKUP
How to use VLOOKUP instead of nested IFs
How to use VLOOKUP for approximate matches
Why VLOOKUP is better than nested IFs

See also
23 things you should know about VLOOKUP

Author
Dave Bruns

https://exceljet.net/formula/vlookupwithtwoormorecriteria

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FasterVLOOKUP
with2VLOOKUPS

Twowaylookup
withVLOOKUP

VLOOKUPwith
numbersandtext

COUNTIFSwith
multiplecriteria...

23thingsyou
shouldknow...

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multiplecriteria...

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Maximumifmultiple
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Jointhediscussion
Kumuduamonthago

Ineedurkindsupportistarttomakeemployeedetailtrackeriwanttoknwifiminputemployeenumberiwantallthedetailsofperticularpersoncomes
toonesheetitriedmanyformulasbutcouldntworkplslookingforurkindsupport

https://exceljet.net/formula/vlookupwithtwoormorecriteria

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Excelformula:VLOOKUPwithtwoormorecriteria|Exceljet
toonesheetitriedmanyformulasbutcouldntworkplslookingforurkindsupport

Reply Share
DaveBruns

Mod >Kumudu amonthago

ThisVLOOKUPexampledoeswhatyouwant.

Reply Share
AllenLee2monthsago

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/...
HiAll,ihaveanissuetogetreturnvalueatC3in2ndimage.Iamexpectingthereturnvalueisanerror.MyintentionistoretrieveC2=IP002259TC02
andC3=#N/Awhenmapwith"A2&B2"and"A3&B3"tothedatatablerespectively.
Itriedonthe"range_lookup=False"anditdoesn'tworkwellforC2asreturnasanerrorasin3rdimage.
Pleaseguidemeonthistoretrievethecorrectdata.Thanksalot.

seemore

Reply Share
SergioMartin2monthsago

cheersmate,prettyuseful!

Reply Share
Bubble3monthsago

Hiall,
Iwouldliketoaskyoutohelpmetodefinetheexcelformulaforthefollowingsituation:
The'StartDate'of'Table2'hastobethefirstdayofthemonthfollowedbythe'EndDate'of'Table1'.
Buttheproblemis:
Ineedtolookupupthe'EndDate'of'Table1'(basedontheroomno.).But'Table1'containstworowswiththesameroomno.withtwodifferent'EndDate'
andIneedtodefinesomeLOOKUPformulatofindthe'EndDate'withthehighestvalue.
IknowthatLOOKUPusesonlythefirstvalueitfinds...
Table1:
ABC
1RoomNo.StartDateEndDate
2G01010516310317
3G01010417310318
4G02010516310317
5G02010417310318
Table2:
seemore

Reply Share
bob3monthsago

CanyouVlookupthreecolumnsandifanyofthemhaveamatchshowtheresult?
=vlookupA:AorB:BorC:C,DD,1,false
WhenIusethe&itmustmatchinallthreecolumns

Reply Share
DaveBruns

Mod >bob 3monthsago

Youcouldchain(nest)togethermultipleVLOOKUPSwithIFERROR.Ifthefirstlookupreturnsanerror,runthesecondlookup,andsoon.Basic
exampleofVLOOKUPwithIFERRORhere.
Chainedexamplehere.

Reply Share
https://exceljet.net/formula/vlookupwithtwoormorecriteria

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Excelformula:VLOOKUPwithtwoormorecriteria|Exceljet

Reply Share
Dean4monthsago

greatsolution,butmyproblemisalittlemorecomplex.IDOhavecontrolofthedata.Ineedtoreturnavalueusingvlookupbasedupon,2dependant
dropdown(validated)lists.List1producesthefirstcriteria,andlist2,(alreadyConcatenatednames)producesthesecond.Basedupontheoutcomesof
boththesecolumnsIwantmyvlookuptoselectthecorrespondingvalue,andablankwherebothcriteriaisnotmet.Unfortunatelythedataisstoredas8
separateemployeetables,andIhavealreadyusedthedataextensivelytoproduceotherresults.eachtabletheitselfiscompartmentalisedtocorrespond
withthecriteriaforcolumn1.canmyproblemberesolvedwithoutjoiningthe8datatablesinto1?I'mfairlynewatthissomightbemissingsomething
obvious.

Reply Share
DaveBruns

Mod >Dean 4monthsago

Idon'tunderstandthedetailsofyourproblem,butyoucanswitchlookuptablesontheflywithotherlogicorcriteria.Thisformulashowsasimple
examplewithVLOOKUPandtwolookuptables.

Reply Share
DEAN>DaveBruns4monthsago

Manythanks,ImpleasedtosayyouhavesolvedadifferentproblemIhad!andIvesortedtheoriginalbycombiningthe8datatablesinto1
justtosolvemylookupproblem.alreadyappliedthistoseveralareasofmyspreadsheet.greatstuffthanks

Reply Share
DaveBruns

Mod >DEAN 4monthsago

Coolthanksforthenote!

Reply Share
DustinSmall5monthsago

Thanksforthistipsavedmealotofwork!

Reply Share
DaveBruns

Mod >DustinSmall 5monthsago

Greatthanksforyourcomment!

Reply Share
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