Lookup and Reference - HLOOKUP Function



Description

The HLOOKUP function searches for a value in the top row of a table or an array of values, and then returns a value in the same column from a row you specify in the table or array.

You can use HLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a row across the top of a table of data, and you want to look down a specified number of rows.

The H in HLOOKUP stands for "Horizontal". You can use VLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a column to the left of the data you want to find.

Syntax

HLOOKUP (lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup]) 

Arguments

Argument Description Required/ Optional
lookup_value

The value to be found in the first row of the table.

Lookup_value can be a value, a reference, or a text string.

Required
table_array

A table of information in which data is looked up.

Use a reference to a range or a range name.

The values in the first row of table_array can be text, numbers, or logical values.

See Notes Below.

Required
row_index_num

The row number in table_array from which the matching value will be returned.

A row_index_num of 1 returns the first row value in table_array, a row_index_num of 2 returns the second row value in table_array, and so on.

1 ≤ row_index_num ≤ the number of rows in the table_array.

HLOOKUP returns the #VALUE! error value; if row_index_num is greater than,

Required
range_lookup

A logical value that specifies whether you want HLOOKUP to find an exact match or an approximate match.

If TRUE or if omitted, an approximate match is returned. In other words, if an exact match is not found, the next largest value that is less than lookup_value is returned.

If FALSE, HLOOKUP will find an exact match. If one is not found, the error value #N/A is returned.

Optional

Notes

  • table_array

    • If range_lookup is TRUE, the values in the first row of table_array must be placed in ascending order: ...-2, -1, 0, 1, 2..., A-Z, FALSE, TRUE. Otherwise, HLOOKUP may not give the correct value

    • Uppercase and lowercase text are equivalent

    • Sort the values in ascending order, left to right

    • If range_lookup is FALSE, table_array does not need to be sorted

  • If row_index_num is less than 1, HLOOKUP function returns the #VALUE! error value.

  • If row_index_num is not recognized as a numeric value, HLOOKUP function returns the #VALUE! error value.

  • If row_index_num is greater than the number of rows in the table_array, HLOOKUP function returns the #REF! error value.

  • If HLOOKUP function cannot find lookup_value, and range_lookup is TRUE, it uses the largest value that is less than lookup_value.

  • If lookup_value is smaller than the smallest value in the first row of table_array, HLOOKUP function returns the #N/A error value.

  • If range_lookup is FALSE and lookup_value is text, you can use the wildcard characters, question mark (?) and asterisk (*), in lookup_value. A question mark matches any single character; an asterisk matches any sequence of characters. If you want to find an actual question mark or asterisk, type a tilde (~) before the character.

Applicability

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016

Example

HLOOKUP Function
advanced_excel_lookup_reference_functions.htm
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