Lookup & reference
VLOOKUP function
Look up down the first column. VLOOKUP works in Sheets with the usual arguments and results, on cells and on live data from the tools you connect.
Syntax
=VLOOKUP(lookup, table, col_index, [approximate]) | Argument | Use |
|---|---|
lookup | required |
table | required |
col_index | required |
approximate | optional |
Example
Find an order by number and return its amount.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order | Customer | Region | Status | Amount | Date |
| 2 | #1001 | Acme Ltd | North | Paid | 1200 | 2026-01-14 |
| 3 | #1002 | Blue Fox | South | Open | 450 | 2026-01-20 |
| 4 | #1003 | Acme Ltd | North | Paid | 980 | 2026-02-03 |
| 5 | #1004 | Cedar & Co | East | Overdue | 2300 | 2026-02-11 |
| 6 | #1005 | Blue Fox | South | Paid | 610 | 2026-03-02 |
| 7 | #1006 | Delta BV | West | Open | 1750 | 2026-03-09 |
| 8 | 2,300 |
Result computed by the Sheets formula engine.
On live data
In Sheets, VLOOKUP sits next to live data from a connected tool: =data.orders.sum(total) totals a table, =list.orders(customer) spills a column's distinct values, and a linked table column such as table.orders[Total] is a range any function accepts.
More lookup & reference functions
FILTERRows or columns that meet a conditionINDEXValue at a row/column of a rangeMATCHPosition of a value in a rangeSORTSort the rows or columns of an arrayUNIQUEDistinct rows or columns of an arrayXLOOKUPLook up a value, return the matching itemXMATCHPosition of an item in a row or columnADDRESSCell address as textAREASNumber of areas in a referenceCHOOSEPick the Nth valueCHOOSECOLSSelected columns of an arrayCHOOSEROWSSelected rows of an array
Spreadsheet formulas on live business data
Sheets evaluates 491 spreadsheet functions, on cells and on data read live from your tools.