VLOOKUP With Multiple Criteria: Best Ways to VLOOKUP and SUM Together?

So, performing lookups in Excel using multiple criteria is a good skill for analytics people. Because it can greatly enhance your data analysis capabilities. This guide is focusing on XLOOKUP multiple criteria, INDEX MATCH multiple criteria, Excel lookup multiple criteria and VBA VLookup multiple criteria. Each of these approaches offers different advantages. And they can be applied in different scenarios to manipulate and analyze data.

VLOOKUP With Multiple Criteria Explanation: vlookup with multiple criteria excel

Doing a VLOOKUP with multiple criteria takes a bit of creativity since the standard VLOOKUP function only handles one lookup value at a time. But don’t worry for it. Because there are several ways to work around this. You can use VLOOKUP or other techniques to get the results for multiple criteria.

1. Using a Helper Column for Concatenation

The most easy approach for VLOOKUP with multiple criteria is to create a helper column. Because it combines (in other words concatenates) the criteria into a single unique identifier.

VLOOKUP with SUM in Excel: Can I use VLOOKUP and sum?

Steps:

1. Concatenate Criteria: In your dataset, you can add a new column. Here, each row combines the criteria values. For example, if your criteria are in columns A and B, you can use the formula =A2&B2 in column C.
2. Perform VLOOKUP: Now, it is time to use VLOOKUP to search for a combined string of your criteria in the helper column. If looking for values corresponding to criteria in A and B, your formula might look like =VLOOKUP(A2&B2, C:D, 2, FALSE). Here, we are assuming column D contains the values you are retrieving.

2. INDEX and MATCH with Multiple Criteria

For a more dynamic solution without changing original data, you can use an array formula that combines INDEX and MATCH. This approach provides greater flexibility. And you wont need a helper column.

Example:

This formula requires pressing Ctrl+Shift+Enter in versions of Excel prior to Excel 365. It searches for rows where both criteria match and returns the value from return range.

3. Using XLOOKUP for Multiple Criteria

XLOOKUP is available in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2019. New benefits of this version are including handling multiple criteria more directly compared to VLOOKUP.

Example:

While XLOOKUP does not support multiple criteria in the same way as INDEX and MATCH, you can use it in conjunction with other functions or array operations. For instance:

This approach might require creative structuring of your formula. It is depending on nature of your lookup and criteria.

4. Double TRUE/FALSE Multiplication Method

Another method to simulate VLOOKUP with multiple criteria is to use an array formula with multiplying two arrays of TRUE/FALSE values to find a match on multiple criteria. This method is closely related to using INDEX and MATCH with array formulas.

Example:

This formula will return values where both criteria are met. But for Excel versions prior to 365, you need to enter it as an array formula using Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

5. Using Dynamic Arrays in Excel 365

If you are using Excel 365, you can benefit from dynamic arrays to simplify multiple criteria. Thus, you wont need to enter formulas as array formulas manually.

Example:

The FILTER function can often achieve what you need from a VLOOKUP with multiple criteria. Hence it is allowing you to specify multiple conditions:

This formula filters ReturnRange for rows matching both criteria. And it is directly returning the array of matches.

1. XLOOKUP Multiple Criteria

XLOOKUP multiple criteria changes data retrieval in Excel. It does it by allowing users to specify multiple conditions for their lookup.

Example of XLOOKUP Multiple Criteria:

2. INDEX MATCH Multiple Criteria

The combination of INDEX MATCH multiple criteria is a better alternative to VLOOKUP. Especially if you are working in datasets where lookup values are not in the first column. Or when you are searching based on multiple criteria.

Example of INDEX MATCH Multiple Criteria:

Using INDEX MATCH multiple criteria create a dynamic data analysis for complex lookup scenarios.

3. Excel Lookup Multiple Criteria

Excel lookup multiple criteria are using functions like SUMPRODUCT or array formulas to match against multiple conditions.

Example of Excel Lookup Multiple Criteria:

Excel lookup multiple criteria broadens the scope of data analysis. Hence, it becomes easier for us to conduct thorough searches.

4. VBA VLookup Multiple Criteria

If you are looking for customized lookup options, VBA VLookup with multiple criteria offers a programmable way to it.

For example, a VBA function can loop through a dataset to find what you need.

It is basically evaluating each row against multiple criteria to find a match. Thus, this function is extending VBA VLookup multiple criteria beyond simple Excel functions.

5. Excel VLOOKUP Multiple Values

When you need lookup to return multiple values, Excel VLOOKUP multiple values works through creative use of array formulas or combining VLOOKUP with other functions.

Example of Excel VLOOKUP Multiple Values:

This method of Excel VLOOKUP multiple values is essential for extracting multiple records.

6. Excel SUMIF Multiple Criteria

Excel SUMIF multiple criteria function is good at conditional summing based on more than one criterion.

Example of Excel SUMIF Multiple Criteria:

So, applying Excel SUMIF multiple criteria is important for performing complex conditional sums.

7. Google Sheets VLOOKUP Multiple Criteria

Google Sheets VLOOKUP multiple criteria functionality mirrors Excel. Hence, they are allowing us to perform lookups based on several conditions even in a web-based environment.

Example of Google Sheets VLOOKUP Multiple Criteria:

With Google Sheets VLOOKUP multiple criteria, you can apply advanced lookup techniques in cloud-based spreadsheets.

8. Excel IF Function Multiple Conditions with VLOOKUP

Combining the Excel IF function multiple conditions with VLOOKUP helps you to decide on complex criteria.

Can you do a VLOOKUP with 2 criteria?

Yes, you can perform a VLOOKUP with 2 criteria by using a helper column. Because it will concatenates the two criteria into one unique identifier. This allows VLOOKUP to search for this combined value. Alternatively, more advanced functions like INDEX and MATCH or XLOOKUP (in newer versions of Excel) can directly create multiple criteria.

Can you do a VLOOKUP if there are multiple matches?

VLOOKUP automatically returns the first match it finds in the specified column. If you have to do a bunch of matches, you might want to try using VLOOKUP along with other functions. Such as IFERROR and ARRAYFORMULA. Alternatively, you could switch things up with XLOOKUP. Or, you can even use INDEX and MATCH for a bit more control.

How to do a VLOOKUP with multiple criteria sheets?

If you want to perform a VLOOKUP with multiple criteria across different sheets, you can use a helper column on each sheet to concatenate the criteria. Then, you can easily perform a VLOOKUP against this helper column. Another approach is to use INDEX and MATCH functions across sheets.

Can you do a VLOOKUP on multiple values?

Sorry but VLOOKUP cannot return multiple values for a single lookup. However, you can use VLOOKUP in an array formula or combine it with functions like INDEX and SMALL to return multiple values. These methods tough need constructing more complex formulas.

What is the difference between VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP looks for a value in the first column of a range. And it gives you a value from a specified column. However, it has its limitations. These are like only searching to the right and returning just the first match.

XLOOKUP, on the other hand, comes with some great upgrades. So as a plus, it can search in any direction, not just to the right. It also lets you find both approximate and exact matches. And it can return arrays. For regular excel users, it is super handy for multiple matches. And with its error handling, you get better control over what happens when there is no match.

How do I use XLOOKUP in Excel?

To use XLOOKUP in Excel, you should specify the lookup value, the range to lookup within, the return range and optionally, what to return if no match is found. Here’s a basic syntax example:

Example:

This formula searches for Product A in the range A2:A100 and returns the corresponding value from B2:B100. If Product A is not found, then it returns Not Found.

Can VLOOKUP look at 2 columns?

Unfortunately, VLOOKUP cannot look at 2 columns to match two criteria. However, you can create a helper column to combine the values of the two columns. Then, VLOOKUP can be used to search this concatenated helper column.

How do I do a VLOOKUP with two columns at once?

To perform a VLOOKUP with two columns at once, you should follow these steps below.

1. You need to create a helper column in your data range. It should concatenates the two columns you wish to use as lookup criteria. For example, if your criteria are in columns A and B, you can create a formula in a new column that concatenates these (e.g., =A2&"_"&B2).
2. Next, you can use VLOOKUP to search for a value in this helper column. The lookup value should also concatenate the two criteria in the same way (e.g., =VLOOKUP(Criteria1&"_"&Criteria2, Range, ColumnIndex, FALSE)).

Example of Excel IF Function Multiple Conditions with VLOOKUP:

Excel IF function multiple conditions with VLOOKUP offers a nuanced approach to data retrieval for specific look ups.