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The VLOOKUP function in Excel allows users to retrieve data from multiple columns and return a single result based on a given search criteria. This function is commonly used in data analysis and can save time and effort when working with large sets of data. By specifying the lookup value and the range of columns to search, the VLOOKUP function returns the value of the first matching entry in the specified column. This helps users quickly find and extract specific information from a table or database, making it a valuable tool for organizing and analyzing data in a more efficient manner.
Excel: VLOOKUP from Multiple Columns with Only One Return
Often you may want to look up values in multiple columns in Excel and return a corresponding value in another column.
For example, you may want to look up the team “Spurs” and the position Center” in the following dataset and return the corresponding value from the points column:
The following step-by-step example shows exactly how to do so using the VLOOKUP function.
Step 1: Create the Dataset
First, let’s create the following dataset that contains information about various basketball players:
Step 2: Create a Helper Column
Next, we need to create a helper column in order for the VLOOKUP function to work correctly.
To do so, type the following formula into cell A2:
=B2&C2
Then click and drag this formula down to each remaining cell in column A:
Step 3: Perform VLOOKUP from Multiple Columns and Only Return One
Lastly, we can type the following formula into cell G3 to look up “Spurs” in the team column and Center” in the position column and return the corresponding value in the points column:
=VLOOKUP(G1&G2, A1:D10, 4, FALSE)
The following screenshot shows how to use this formula in practice:
The formula correctly returns a value of 35, which is the points value that corresponds to the player on the “Spurs” team with Center” as their position.
Note that in the formula we used G1&G2 to concatenate the values in cells G1 and G2.
Thus, we effectively looked up the value SpursCenter in column A and returned the corresponding value in the fourth column of the range.
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common tasks in Excel:
Cite this article
stats writer (2024). How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-vlookup-function-in-excel-to-retrieve-data-from-multiple-columns-and-return-only-one-result/
stats writer. "How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 22 Jun. 2024, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-vlookup-function-in-excel-to-retrieve-data-from-multiple-columns-and-return-only-one-result/.
stats writer. "How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2024. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-vlookup-function-in-excel-to-retrieve-data-from-multiple-columns-and-return-only-one-result/.
stats writer (2024) 'How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-vlookup-function-in-excel-to-retrieve-data-from-multiple-columns-and-return-only-one-result/.
[1] stats writer, "How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, June, 2024.
stats writer. How can I use the VLOOKUP function in Excel to retrieve data from multiple columns and return only one result?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2024;vol(issue):pages.