Reverse VLOOKUP example

To reverse a VLOOKUP – i.e. to find the original lookup value using a VLOOKUP formula result – you can use a tricky formula based on the CHOOSE function, or more straightforward formulas based on INDEX and MATCH or XLOOKUP as explained below. In the example shown, the formula in H10 is: =VLOOKUP(G10,CHOOSE({3,2,1},B5:B8,C5:C8,D5:D8),3,0) With this setup, VLOOKUP finds the option associated with a cost of 3000, and returns "C". Note: this is a more advanced topic. If you are just getting started with VLOOKUP, start here.

April 14, 2025 · 1 min · 117 words · Aaron Thompson

Table of Contents

Explanation

Introduction

A key limitation ofVLOOKUPis it can only look up values to theright.

Notice zero (0) is provided as the last argument to force an exact match.

Effectively, we have swapped columns 1 and 3.

The table we have versus the table we need

This formula shows how INDEX and MATCH can be more flexible than VLOOKUP.

With XLOOKUP

XLOOKUP also provides a very good solution.

Because XLOOKUP performs an exact match by default, there is no need to set the match mode explicitly.

The table we have versus the table we need

The values provided to CHOOSE can include references.

you’ve got the option to use INDEX to retrieve individual values, or entire rows and columns.

MATCH supports approximate and exact matching, andwildcards(* ?)

The table we have versus the table we need

XLOOKUP supports approximate and exact matching, wildcards (* ?)

The table we have versus the table we need

The table we have versus the table we need

Table rearranged by CHOOSE function

Excel formula: Left lookup with VLOOKUP

Excel formula: VLOOKUP with variable table array

Excel formula: VLOOKUP two-way lookup

Excel formula: Merge tables with VLOOKUP

Excel formula: VLOOKUP without #N/A error

Excel VLOOKUP function

Excel CHOOSE function

Excel INDEX function

Excel MATCH function

Excel XLOOKUP function