Are you ready to level up your Google Sheets game? Today, we’re going to dive deep into the powerful VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions. These functions are essential for serious data entry and analysis in spreadsheets. So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and prepare to uncover the magic of vertical and horizontal lookups in Google Sheets.
What Is VLOOKUP?
If your data is organized in rows, VLOOKUP is your go-to function. It allows you to search for a specific value and retrieve information from the corresponding columns. Here’s how it works:
- VLOOKUP scans down the first column of your lookup range (table) to find the search key.
- Once it finds a match, it retrieves the value from the specified column or columns.
- Voila! You have your desired result.
But here’s the catch: when using numbers, dates, datetime, or time as the search key, if no exact match is found, VLOOKUP will return the value less than or equal to the search key—provided the data is sorted in ascending order.
What Is HLOOKUP?
If your data is organized in columns, HLOOKUP is the function you need. Similar to VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP searches for a specific value, but this time in the first row of your data. It then returns the corresponding values from the found column.
Now that you have a basic understanding of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, let’s dive into some practical examples to enhance your grasp of these functions.
VLOOKUP Use Case: The Retail Price Mystery
Let’s say you have a spreadsheet with item codes, descriptions, unit prices, and markup percentages. You want to find the retail price for a specific item. Don’t worry; VLOOKUP has got your back!
Here’s how you can calculate the retail price using VLOOKUP:
=VLOOKUP("W-240", A1:D6, 3, false)
In this formula:
- “W-240” is the search key (the item code you’re looking for).
- A1:D6 is the range where you want to search for the item code.
- 3 represents the column index from which you want to retrieve the result.
- “false” signifies that the data is not sorted.
You can also find the markup percentage using another VLOOKUP formula:
=VLOOKUP("W-240", A1:D6, 4, false)
Once you have these values, calculating the retail price is a piece of cake:
=VLOOKUP("W-240", A1:D6, 3, false)*(1+VLOOKUP("W-240", A1:D6, 4, false))
I hope this example has shed some light on how to use the VLOOKUP function in Google Sheets. If you’re hungry for more advanced techniques and tips, check out the following resources on Crawlan.com:
Mastering VLOOKUP: In-Depth Guides and Tips for Success
- Vlookup in Google Sheets – How to, Formula Variations, Tips, and Tricks
Supporting Tutorials
- How to Use VLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria in Google Sheets [Solved]
- Multiple Values Using VLOOKUP in Google Sheets is Possible [How To]
- How to Use VLOOKUP to Return an Array Result in Google Sheets
- Dynamic Index Column in VLOOKUP in Google Sheets
Improve Your Skills
- How to Perform Two-way Lookup Using VLOOKUP in Google Sheets
- Reverse VLOOKUP Examples in Google Sheets [Formula Options]
- How to VLOOKUP Importrange in Google Sheets [Formula Examples]
- VLOOKUP Last Record in Each Group in Google Sheets
- Nested VLOOKUP in Google Sheets
- Common Errors in VLOOKUP in Google Sheets
- VLOOKUP and Combine Values in Google Sheets
- Wildcards in VLOOKUP Search Range in Google Sheets
HLOOKUP Use Case: A Transposed Tale
Now, let’s flip the table and explore HLOOKUP. Imagine your data is transposed, and you want to perform the same retail price calculation as before. Here’s how you can use HLOOKUP:
HLOOKUP("W-240", A14:F17, 3, false)
In this formula:
- “W-240” is still the search key.
- A14:F17 is the range where you want to search for the item code.
- 3 represents the row index from which you want to retrieve the result.
- “false” indicates that the data is not sorted.
To calculate the markup percentage, use the same formula with index #4:
HLOOKUP("W-240", A14:F17, 4, false)
To get the retail price, apply the formula: Retail Price = Unit Rate × (1 + Markup Percentage)
=HLOOKUP("W-240", A14:F17, 3, false)*(1+HLOOKUP("W-240", A14:F17, 4, false))
Dive deeper into HLOOKUP with these juicy resources on Crawlan.com:
Mastering HLOOKUP: In-Depth Guides and Tips for Success
- HLOOKUP function in Google Sheets: Step-by-step guide
Supporting Tutorials
- How to Return an Entire Column in HLOOKUP in Google Sheets
- How to Do a Reverse HLOOKUP in Google Sheets
- How to Use Multiple Conditions in HLOOKUP in Google Sheets
Improve Your Skills
- VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP Combination in Google Sheets
- HLOOKUP to Search the Entire Table and Find the Header in Google Sheets
- Move Single Column to Multiple Columns Using HLOOKUP in Google Sheets
Conclusion: Unleash Your Spreadsheet Superpowers
Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the secrets of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP in Google Sheets. These functions are a treasure trove of possibilities, and we’ve only scratched the surface. To further enhance your mastery, I’ve included links to advanced lookup tutorials in this post. Feel free to explore Crawlan.com and unleash your spreadsheet superpowers.
Thank you for joining us on this thrilling adventure. If you have any questions or want to share your own tips and tricks, don’t hesitate to reach out. Stay tuned for more exciting articles and insights at Crawlan.com. Happy spreadsheet ninja-ing!
