How it works.
HLOOKUP is the horizontal cousin of VLOOKUP. It searches the first row of a horizontal table range for a query value, locates the column index of that match, and then retrieves the value in the specified row index of that column.
💡 In simple terms.
Searches horizontally across the first row of a table for a query value, then retrieves matching info from a row number you choose.
"Think of HLOOKUP like scanning a horizontal calendar. You search across the top row for the month, then look down to find your appointment."
Syntax guide.
Parameters
The value to be found in the first row of the table.
The range of cells in which you search for the lookup_value and the return value.
The row number in table_array from which the matching value will be returned (row 1 is the top row).
TRUE = Approximate match, FALSE = Exact match. Set to FALSE for exact strings; set to TRUE for numerical scale brackets.
Default: TRUEInteractive formula builder.
Fill in the input arguments below to construct your custom formula string. Copy it directly to paste into your Excel spreadsheets.
Best Practices
- Ensure the values in the first row of table_array are sorted in ascending order if range_lookup is set to TRUE.
- Just like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP only searches top-to-bottom. Use XLOOKUP if you need more flexible searches.
Common Gotchas
- If row_index_num is less than 1, HLOOKUP returns a #VALUE! error. If it is greater than the number of rows in table_array, it returns a #REF! error.