Excel Vlookup: Return Multiple Values Made Easy

Excel VLOOKUP is a powerful and widely used function that allows users to search for a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. However, one of the limitations of the traditional VLOOKUP function is that it can only return a single value. But what if you need to return multiple values? In this article, we will explore how to use VLOOKUP to return multiple values in Excel.

The Importance of Returning Multiple Values

In many cases, you may need to return multiple values from a table based on a single search criterion. For example, you may have a table with customer information, including their name, address, and phone number. If you want to retrieve all the phone numbers for a specific customer, the traditional VLOOKUP function would not be able to do this. However, with a few tweaks, you can use VLOOKUP to return multiple values.

Understanding the Limitations of Traditional VLOOKUP

Before we dive into how to return multiple values with VLOOKUP, it's essential to understand the limitations of the traditional function. The traditional VLOOKUP function has the following syntax:

VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

• lookup_value: The value you want to search for.
• table_array: The range of cells that contains the data you want to search.
• col_index_num: The column number that contains the value you want to return.
• [range_lookup]: Optional. Specifies whether you want an exact match or an approximate match.

The traditional VLOOKUP function can only return a single value. If you try to return multiple values, you will get a #N/A error.

Using VLOOKUP with INDEX and MATCH to Return Multiple Values

One way to return multiple values with VLOOKUP is to use the INDEX and MATCH functions in combination with VLOOKUP. The INDEX and MATCH functions are more powerful and flexible than VLOOKUP, and they can be used to return multiple values.

The syntax for using INDEX and MATCH with VLOOKUP is as follows:

INDEX(range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type]), [column_num])

• range: The range of cells that contains the data you want to return.
• MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type]): This function returns the relative position of the lookup value in the lookup array.
• [column_num]: Optional. Specifies the column number that contains the value you want to return.

By using the INDEX and MATCH functions with VLOOKUP, you can return multiple values. For example, if you have a table with customer information, including their name, address, and phone number, you can use the following formula to return all the phone numbers for a specific customer:

=INDEX(C:C, MATCH(A2, A:A, 0))

In this formula:

• C:C is the range of cells that contains the phone numbers.
• MATCH(A2, A:A, 0) returns the relative position of the customer name in the range A:A.
• INDEX(C:C, MATCH(A2, A:A, 0)) returns the phone number at the position returned by the MATCH function.

Using VLOOKUP with FILTER Function to Return Multiple Values

Another way to return multiple values with VLOOKUP is to use the FILTER function. The FILTER function is a new function in Excel that allows you to filter a range of cells based on a specific criterion.

The syntax for using VLOOKUP with the FILTER function is as follows:

FILTER(range, (lookup_array = lookup_value))

• range: The range of cells that contains the data you want to return.
• lookup_array: The range of cells that contains the values you want to search.
• lookup_value: The value you want to search for.

By using the FILTER function with VLOOKUP, you can return multiple values. For example, if you have a table with customer information, including their name, address, and phone number, you can use the following formula to return all the phone numbers for a specific customer:

=FILTER(C:C, (A:A = A2))

In this formula:

• C:C is the range of cells that contains the phone numbers.
• A:A is the range of cells that contains the customer names.
• A2 is the cell that contains the customer name you want to search for.
• FILTER(C:C, (A:A = A2)) returns all the phone numbers for the customer name in cell A2.

Using VLOOKUP with Power Query to Return Multiple Values

Another way to return multiple values with VLOOKUP is to use Power Query. Power Query is a powerful data manipulation tool in Excel that allows you to connect to various data sources, transform and shape your data, and load it into your workbook.

To use VLOOKUP with Power Query, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the "Data" tab in the ribbon.
2. Click on "From Other Sources" in the "Get & Transform Data" group.
3. Select "From Microsoft Query" from the dropdown menu.
4. In the "Microsoft Query" window, select the table that contains the data you want to search.
5. Click on "OK" to load the data into Power Query.
6. In the "Power Query Editor" window, click on "Add Column" in the "Home" tab.
7. Select "Custom Column" from the dropdown menu.
8. In the "Custom Column" window, enter the following formula:

if [Name] = "Customer Name" then [Phone Number] else null

• [Name] is the column that contains the customer names.
• "Customer Name" is the customer name you want to search for.
• [Phone Number] is the column that contains the phone numbers.

9. Click on "OK" to add the custom column.
10. Click on "Close & Load" to load the data into your workbook.

By using VLOOKUP with Power Query, you can return multiple values. For example, if you have a table with customer information, including their name, address, and phone number, you can use the following formula to return all the phone numbers for a specific customer:

if [Name] = "Customer Name" then [Phone Number] else null

In this formula:

• [Name] is the column that contains the customer names.
• "Customer Name" is the customer name you want to search for.
• [Phone Number] is the column that contains the phone numbers.

Using VLOOKUP with PivotTables to Return Multiple Values

Another way to return multiple values with VLOOKUP is to use PivotTables. PivotTables are a powerful data analysis tool in Excel that allows you to summarize and analyze large datasets.

To use VLOOKUP with PivotTables, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the cell range that contains the data you want to search.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on "PivotTable" in the "Tables" group.
4. Select a cell to place the PivotTable.
5. In the "Create PivotTable" window, select the table that contains the data you want to search.
6. Click on "OK" to create the PivotTable.
7. In the "PivotTable Fields" pane, drag the field that contains the values you want to search to the "Row Labels" area.
8. Drag the field that contains the values you want to return to the "Values" area.
9. Right-click on the field in the "Values" area and select "Value Field Settings."
10. In the "Value Field Settings" window, select "Sum" as the value field.
11. Click on "OK" to apply the changes.

By using VLOOKUP with PivotTables, you can return multiple values. For example, if you have a table with customer information, including their name, address, and phone number, you can use the following formula to return all the phone numbers for a specific customer:

=VLOOKUP(A2, PivotTable1, 2, FALSE)

In this formula:

• A2 is the cell that contains the customer name you want to search for.
• PivotTable1 is the name of the PivotTable.
• 2 is the column number that contains the phone numbers.
• FALSE specifies an exact match.

Gallery of Excel VLOOKUP Return Multiple Values

I hope this article has been helpful in explaining how to return multiple values with VLOOKUP in Excel. If you have any further questions or need more assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.