Lookup & Referenceintermediate
VLOOKUP to match two columns
=VLOOKUP(A2,$F$2:$G$8,2,FALSE)
Excel how-to guide
How to iferror suppress errors in Excel
Replace
Step-by-step instructions
How to iferror suppress errors — 3 steps
1
Wrap the formula that might produce an error as the first argument of IFERROR.
2
Enter the value to display when an error occurs as the second argument.
3
Use an empty string "" for a blank result, a dash "-" for a visual placeholder, or 0 for numeric continuity.
Example data
Worked example
| Lookup ID | Result |
|---|---|
| A-100 | East |
| A-999 | - |
| A-101 | West |
Common mistakes
Errors to watch out for
IFERROR hides real bugs
IFERROR catches all errors including formula mistakes. Use it only once the underlying formula is verified correct — otherwise you risk hiding logic errors silently.
Using IFERROR around VLOOKUP for missing lookups
This is the most common use case and is correct. For XLOOKUP, use the built-in fourth argument instead — XLOOKUP(A2,range,result,"Not found").
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IFERROR and IFNA?
IFNA catches only #N/A errors. IFERROR catches all error types. Use IFNA when you want other errors (like #VALUE or #REF) to surface as real alerts.
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Lookup & Referenceintermediate
XLOOKUP for the last matching value
=XLOOKUP(A2,$F$2:$F$20,$G$2:$G$20,"Not found",0,-1)