Lookup & Referenceadvanced
Two-way lookup with INDEX and MATCH
=INDEX(B2:E10,MATCH(H2,A2:A10,0),MATCH(H3,B1:E1,0))
Excel how-to guide
How to hlookup row lookup in Excel
Look up a product code in a header row and return the matching price, budget, or quantity from a specific row in a horizontal table layout.
Step-by-step instructions
How to hlookup row lookup — 4 steps
1
Enter the value to look up — it must exist in the first row of the lookup table.
2
Enter the table range starting from the header row.
3
Enter the row index number — 1 returns the header row itself, 2 returns the next row down, and so on.
4
Use FALSE for an exact match.
Example data
Worked example
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 10000 | 12000 | 11000 |
| Actual | 9800 | 12500 | 10700 |
Common mistakes
Errors to watch out for
#N/A error
The lookup value was not found in the first row. Check for extra spaces, case mismatches, or confirm the value actually exists in the header row.
Wrong row returned
The row index counts from 1 (the header row). If you want the third data row, the index should be 4, not 3, because the header is row 1.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When should I use HLOOKUP instead of INDEX/MATCH?
HLOOKUP is simpler for straightforward horizontal lookups. INDEX/MATCH is more flexible when the header row position may change or when you need a two-way lookup.
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Lookup & Referenceintermediate
VLOOKUP to match two columns
=VLOOKUP(A2,$F$2:$G$8,2,FALSE)