XLOOKUP Formula Generator
Describe what you're looking up in plain English and get a ready-to-use XLOOKUP formula for Excel or Google Sheets — the modern replacement for VLOOKUP.
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XLOOKUP syntax
=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])lookup_value is what you're searching for, lookup_array is the single column to search, and return_array is the column (or columns) to pull the result from — it can be anywhere relative to lookup_array, left or right. if_not_found lets you set a fallback value instead of getting a #N/A error. Formulon writes the exact arguments for you from a plain description.
Examples
Basic exact-match lookup
=XLOOKUP(A2,Customers!A:A,Customers!C:C)Finds the value in A2 within the Customers sheet's column A, and returns the matching value from column C — even though C is not immediately next to A.
Lookup with a built-in fallback
=XLOOKUP(A2,PriceList!A:A,PriceList!B:B,"Not found")Looks up the product in A2 against the price list; if there's no match, returns "Not found" directly instead of a #N/A error — no need to wrap it in IFERROR.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between XLOOKUP and VLOOKUP?
XLOOKUP can look up and return values in either direction (not just to the right), has a built-in "not found" fallback so you don't need to wrap it in IFERROR, defaults to exact match, and doesn't break if columns are inserted between the lookup and return ranges.
Is XLOOKUP available in Google Sheets?
Yes, Google Sheets added XLOOKUP with the same argument order and behavior as Excel. It's not available in Excel versions before Excel 2021 / Microsoft 365, though — older Excel needs VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH instead.
Can XLOOKUP return more than one column at once?
Yes — if return_array spans multiple columns, XLOOKUP spills the matching row across multiple cells automatically, no array formula needed.
What happens if the lookup value isn't found?
You control it directly with the 4th argument: =XLOOKUP(A2,B:B,C:C,"Not found") returns that fallback text instead of a #N/A error, with no IFERROR wrapper required.
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