In this blog, I will show you how to calculate percentages in Excel by following this simple step.

Here are 3 Formula in Excel of percentage

Method 1: Basic Percentage Formula in Excel

The basic formula to calculate percentage is

Percentage = (Part / Total) × 100

If the cell is set up as a percentage in Excel, you don’t need to multiply by 100.

Let’s assume we have a simple set of data. We need to find out what percentage (%) of the Pens  in the total Products proportion.

All we have to do is write the following formula into cell D8 and hit Enter.

=C6/D6

After entering the formula in cell D8, press Enter. You will see the result is 0.1. We thought it would be about 10% (10 percent).

You need to multiply the formula by 100. Excel doesn’t need that, though. In the Number category on the Home tab, Excel offers a button for Percentage Style.

• Go to the Home tab, then go Number Group or you can also use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+1 and directly go to Number Group.
• Click on Percentage, then choose the number of decimal places you want, and then click OK.

Ctrl + Shift + % is the keyboard shortcut for Percentage Style.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + % after or before your calculation to select the cell(s). It will change the number to percentage (%) style.
• We now have our result in the right format (10.0%) by using the Percentage Style on Cell D8.

Imp Note: Keep in mind that Ctrl + Shift + % is a quick way to format percentages. Also, there is no set way to calculate percentages in Excel; you need to change the formula depending on the type of calculation you’re doing.

ALSO READ: How to Recover Unsaved Excel File

Method 2: Calculating Percentage Increase or Decrease

The most common scenario in which you must calculate percentage change is when you have two values and need to determine how much has changed from one to the other.

Formula for Percentage Increase:

Assume I have the data set as displayed below, with cell A2 containing the pen’s old price and cell B2 containing its current price.

To find the percentage increase, use the following formula:

=Change in Price/Original Price

The following formula can be used in Excel to determine the price % increase:

=(B2-A2)/A2

The results are shown as decimals; you have to convert them into percentages.

To change this decimal to a percentage, click the percentage icon (%) in the Number group on the Excel ribbon’s Home tab after selecting the column containing the number.

After clicking on the percentage (%) sign, the result will be shown in percentage value.

Formula for Percentage Decrease:

The process for calculating a percentage decrease is very similar to that of calculating a percentage increase.

Assume you have two values below, where the new price is less than the previous one.

In this situation, you may calculate the percentage decrease using the formula below:

=(B2-A2)/A2

Method 3: Calculating Percentage of Total

To find the percentage that each item adds to the total:

To find the % for Product A, type the following formula in C2:

=B2/B5

After that, hit Enter and format as a percentage.

For the remaining items, duplicate the formula.

Common Percentage Uses in Excel

• Sales Growth: (New Sales - Old Sales)/Old Sales
• Profit Margin: (Profit / Revenue)
• Attendance Rate: (Present Days / Total Days)
• Exam Scores: (Marks Obtained / Total Marks)

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Let’s look at how to make a line chart in Excel, when it’s most useful, and how it may help you make sense of complicated data sets.

What is Excel line chart (graph)

An Excel line chart (sometimes called a line graph) shows a series of data points that are connected by a straight line. It is often used to show numbers over a given amount of time in a visual way.

Independent data, like time intervals, are usually represented on the x-axis, whereas dependent values, like prices and sales, are plotted on the y-axis. If there are any negative values, they are shown below the x-axis.

The line’s ups and downs on the graph represent patterns in your data collection. An upward slope means values are going up, while a downward slope means values are going down.

ALSO READ: How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel

How To Create a Line Chart in Excel

To create an Excel line chart, do the following:

Step 1: Select Your Data

Step 2: Click the Line symbol in the Charts group on the Insert tab.

Step 3: Now Click on the line with Markers.

Finally your Excel line Chart will be ready

Important Note: If you simply have numbers as labels, clear cell A1 before making the line chart. Excel doesn’t see the values in column A as a data series when you do this, so it puts them on the horizontal (category) axis by default. You can type the word “Year” into cell A1 after making the chart if you want to.

RELATED: How to Make a Bar Chart in Excel​

How to customize and improve an Excel line chart

The default line chart that Excel makes looks OK, but it can always be better. It makes sense to start with the usual changes to give your graph a unique and professional style, such as:

• Adding, altering, or formatting the title of the chart.
• Moving or concealing the legend for the chart.
• Changing the scale of the axis or the format of the numbers on the axis.
• Showing or hiding the gridlines on the chart.
• Changing the colors and design of the chart.

The post How to Create a Line Chart in Excel appeared first on XcelNote.

This guide will show you how to make a pie chart in Excel, change it to make it clearer, and look at more advanced types like doughnut charts and exploded pie charts to highlight important data points.

What Is a Pie Chart in Excel?

A pie chart is a round graph that shows data as slices of a whole. Each slice shows how much a category adds to the whole. You only need one set of data and a set of labels to make a pie chart in Excel. Pie charts are used every day for things like:

• Market share analysis: Looking at how competitors in the same industry measure against each other
• Results of the survey: Showing how responses were spread out
• Budgeting: Seeing how expenses are broken down in financial reports

Pie charts are great for showing how things are related, but they work best with a small number of categories (five or fewer is best) to keep things from getting too busy and confusing. In other words, pie charts don’t work well with data that has a lot of different values.

ALSO READ: How to Make a Bar Chart in Excel​

How to Create a Pie Chart in Excel

Step 1: Adding Data in Excel

Open Excel and put in the information you wish to see as a pie chart.

Step 2: Select your Data

Highlight the information you put in the first step. After that, click the “Insert” option in the toolbar and choose “Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart.” Excel has a lot of ways to make a pie chart, like a 2D pie chart, a 3D chart, and more.

After that, pick the pie chart you want, and it will show up on your spreadsheet.

Step 3: Adding Data Labels

Adding data labels is an important part of learning how to construct a pie chart in Excel. It’s easier to understand and read pie charts and other visualizations when you add data labels to them. When you make pie charts in Excel, a legend is automatically added. The names of the categories will also show up on the pie chart if you typed them in and chose them while building the chart. To show numbers, right-click on the pie chart and choose “Add Data Labels.”

To change the look of data labels, right-click on the pie chart and choose “Format Data Labels.” In the Format Data Labels pane, you may choose the options you want, like the category name, percentage value, and so on. You can also change the format of data series. You may also modify the color and size of the typeface.

RELATED: How to Create a Gantt Chart in Excel

How To Create Different Pie Chart Types In Excel?

You can choose any one of the following subtypes when you are creating a pie chart in Excel:

Pie Of Pie or Bar Of Pie

It’s really simple and quick to make a Bar Of Pie or Pie Of Pie chart in Excel. Go to the Insert tab and choose either Pie Of Pie or Bar Of Pie after you’ve added and highlighted the data.

Doughnut Chart

Doughnut charts are similar to pie charts, but they have a blank space in the middle where you can put important information about the data. You can make a doughnut chart in Excel the same way you make a pie chart: just pick the “Doughnut Chart” option.

Exploded pie charts

An exploding pie chart splits one or more slices from the remainder to draw attention to certain data points. This is helpful if you want to draw attention to an important group, such as the biggest or smallest contributor.

To explode a pie chart, click on a slice and drag it away from the rest of the chart.

​

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Before going forward to function, let’s clarify some important things about text wrapping in Excel. That helps you to understand what and why we should learn about the text wrapping function.

What Is Wrap Text in Excel?

Wrap Text in Excel is a formatting option that lets you display long text on multiple lines within a single cell. Instead of spilling over into nearby cells or getting cut off, the content stays neatly contained and fully visible in one place—perfect for keeping your spreadsheet clean and easy to read.

Actually the text wrapping in Excel is important because it helps to maintain readability and prevent text from extending over the visible area. Without this function (text wrap), you have to manually insert line breaks, which can be very time-consuming and make editing or updating the text more difficult.

Why Do We Need Text Wrapping in Excel?

Sometimes, we need to insert a longer text within one cell, and perhaps you’ve noticed that these usually overflow to the next cells. For situations like these, Excel offers a solution in the form of the function “Wrap Text.” Which is literally wraps even longer texts perfectly and beautifully within one cell.

Let’s go forward to learn how to wrap text in Excel.

ALSO READ : How to Find Duplicates in Excel: 4 Easy and Quick Methods

Here are some simple and quick methods to wrap text in Excel.

Method 1: Using the “Wrap Text” Button From Ribbon

This is the easiest way to wrap text in Excel through this function.

Step 1: Select the cell or range of cells you want to format.

Step 2: Then go to the Home tab in the Excel Ribbon.

Step 3: Then click on the “Wrap Text” button.

That’s it! Excel will automatically adjust the row height and display all text inside the same cell.

Method 2: Using a keyboard shortcut

This method is faster if you prefer using the keyboard.

Step 1: Select the cell or cells where you want to wrap text.

Step 2: Press Alt, then H, then W.

Method 3: Inserting Manual line Breaks

Use this method if you want to control exactly where the line breaks occur inside a cell.

Step 1: Double-click the cell (or press F2) to enter edit mode.

Step 2: Place your cursor where you want a new line.

Step 3: Press Alt + Enter (Windows) or Option + Command + Enter (Mac).

This is great for formatting addresses or separating items within a single cell.

ALSO READ: How to Use PivotTables in Excel: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

The Bottom Line

Learning how to wrap text in Excel is a simple yet essential skill that enhances the readability and professionalism of your spreadsheets. Whether you’re using the Ribbon for fast access, keyboard shortcuts for efficiency, or manual line breaks for custom formatting, these methods give you full control over how your data is displayed. By understanding how to wrap text in Excel, you ensure that your content remains neat, organized, and easy to read no matter how big your data is.

The post How to Wrap Text in Excel appeared first on XcelNote.

That’s why the learning how to find duplicate in Excel is more than just a neat trick—it’s an essential part of keeping your data clean and readable.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a few simple (but powerful) ways to find and deal with duplicates in MS Excel, from easy visual tools to formulas that give you total control.

Why Do Duplicates Happen in the First Place?

Most of the time, duplicates creep in when data gets copied, imported, or manually typed in. It’s super common—especially if you’re working with different team members or pulling info from multiple systems.

The trickiest part is? Not all duplicates are errors. That’s why it’s important to know exactly how to find duplicate in Excel and decide whether to keep or remove them based on context.

ALSO READ: How to Delete Blank Cells in Excel

Method 1: Using Conditional Formatting

The fastest way to find duplicates in Excel—without touching a formula—is with Conditional Formatting, a built-in Excel feature that does the job with just a few clicks.

Try this:

1. Select the cells you want to check.

2. Go to the Home tab.

3. Click Conditional Formating > Highlight Cells Rule > Duplicate Values.

4. Pick a formatting style (red fill usually works well).

5. Hit OK.

Just like that, Excel highlights the repeat entries. It’s a super simple way to get a visual sense of what’s going on in your data.

Want a quick win when figuring out how to find duplicates in Excel without diving into formulas? Start here.

Method 2: Using Formula

Sometimes, you need more than a highlighter—you need logic. That’s when formulas prove to be really useful. And if you’ve ever wondered how to find duplicate values in Excel using formula, here’s a basic one to get started:

=IF(COUNTIF(A:A, A2)>1, "Duplicate", "")

What it does: This formula looks at the value in cell A2 and counts how many times it appears in column A. If it shows up more than once, Excel labels it as “Duplicate.”

Steps:

1. Insert a new column next to your data.
2. Paste the formula into the first row.
3. Drag it down to apply it to the rest of the dataset.

Note: Want to compare two or more columns before calling something a duplicate? Use COUNTIFS instead. It lets you build more specific rules.

So if your question is how to find duplicate values in Excel using formula, this method gives you full flexibility and a clear, customized approach.

Method 3: Actually Removing the Duplicates

Let’s say you don’t just want to see the duplicates—you want them gone. Excel makes that easy too, thanks to the Remove Duplicates tool.

Here’s the step what to do:

1. Highlight your Excel data (don’t forget column headers).
2. Go to the Data tab.
3. Click on Remove Duplicates.
4. Select the column to check.
5. Click OK.

Excel will tell you how many duplicates were deleted and how many unique values are left. Remember— this method is permanent unless you hit Undo right away.

Pro Tip: Always make a backup of your file before deleting anything. To avoid the risk of lose your data.

ALSO READ: How to Create a qbj File From Excel

Method 4: Using Advanced Filter

If you’re more interested in pulling out the unique entries—rather than highlighting or deleting—Excel’s Advanced Filter can help.

Here’s how:

1. Select your data range.

2. Head to the Data tab.

3. Click Advanced under Sort & Filter.

4. Choose Copy to another location.

5. Check Unique records only.

6. Choose where you want the results to appear and click OK.

Note: While this won’t flag or remove duplicates, it gives you a filtered list of unique values, which makes it easy to figure out how to find duplicate cells in Excel by contrast.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Them

• Missing part of your datasets. Always double-check that you’ve selected the full range—especially if your data spans multiple columns.
• Deleting duplicates. Sometimes, repeated entries are valid. Think twice before removing them.
• Not saving a backup Mistake. If you’re using tools like Remove Duplicates, protect yourself by keeping a copy of the original file.

The Bottom Line

Look, learning how to find duplicate in Excel isn’t just for power users or data geeks. It’s something everyone who touches a spreadsheet should know. It’ll save you time, prevent mistakes, and help you work more confidently with data.

And remember—if you mess up a formula or click the wrong button, that’s okay. Excel’s undo button (Ctrl+Z or Command+Z on a Mac) is there for a reason.

So the next time you’re stuck wondering how to find duplicates in Excel, just scroll back to this guide. You’ve got options, tools, and now—the confidence to use them.

The post How to Find Duplicates in Excel: 4 Easy and Quick Methods appeared first on XcelNote.

This guide will walk you exactly—clearly and simply—along the path.

Why Copying Formulas Saves Time

Assume that you have used a formula to determine the total sales for a row. Imagine now having to repeat the process for hundreds or even thousands of additional rows. Typing the same formula repeatedly would be a huge waste of time.

Fortunately, Excel makes it easy to copy and paste formulas, and it even automatically modifies the cell references for every new row or column.

ALSO READ: Top 25 Excel Formulas for Beginners—Learn to Work Smarter, Not Harder!

Step-by-Step: How Do You Copy a Formula in Excel?

1. First, write your formula.

First, start by entering the formula in the first cell. For example:

=SUM(A3:A6)

This formula simply adds up the numbers from cells A3 to A6. Press Enter, and MS Excel will provide you the result.

2. Use the Fill Handle Tool

• Select the cell that contained your formula by clicking on it.
• The Fill Handle is a tiny square that appears in the cell’s lower-right corner.
• Move the cursor over the square until it becomes a plus (+) symbol.
• To apply the same formula to other cells, drag it down or across.

Excel will automatically update the cell references based on where the formula is copied.

3. Copy and Paste Formulas the Traditional Way

If you don’t want to use the Fill Handle, you can use the traditional copy-paste method:

• Click the cell with the formula.
• Press Ctrl + C to copy.
• Highlight the cells where you want the formula.
• Press Ctrl + V to paste.

This method works well, especially when you want to paste the formula into non-adjacent cells.

RELATED: How to Create a qbj File From Excel

How to Copy and Paste Formulas in Excel Without Changing Cell References

Excel uses relative referencing by default, which causes the formula to change when it is copied. However, there are instances when you want the formula to remain identical wherever you paste it.

You must add dollar signs ($) to absolute cell references in order to accomplish this. For example:

=SUM($A$2:$A$5)

This tells Excel not to change those cell references, even when the formula is copied to a new location.

Quick Tips for Copying Formulas

• Use Ctrl + D to quickly copy a formula down.
• Use Ctrl + R to copy a formula across a row.
• Use Paste Special > Formulas to paste only the formula, without any formatting changes.

Final Thoughts

Anyone who works with spreadsheets will find that knowing how to copy a formula in Excel changes everything. This ability will save you time and minimize human error, regardless of whether you’re just learning how to add formulas to Excel or are investigating how to copy and paste formulas in Excel.

In a few easy steps, you can apply your formulas to entire sheets, increasing the workflow’s intelligence, speed, and accuracy.

The post How to Copy a Formula in Excel (Beginner’s Guide with Easy Steps) appeared first on XcelNote.

These formulae can help you develop a solid basis for your Excel skills, regardless of your role—student, office worker, or business owner.

These formulae can help you develop a solid basis for your Excel skills, regardless of your role—student, office worker, or business owner.

Why Learning Excel Formulas is Essential for Beginners

Understanding basic Excel formulas can drastically increase your efficiency and help you avoid manual work. If you’ve been searching for:

• Best Excel Formulas for Beginners
• Top Excel Functions you must know
• Simple Excel formulas to Boost Productivity

…you’re in the right place.

ALSO READ: How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel – A Step-by-Step Guide (With Examples)

Top 25 Excel Formulas Every Beginner Should Learn

Here’s a complete list of essential Excel formulas that will improve your day-to-day tasks.

1. SUM – Add Numbers Quickly

Formula:

=SUM(A1:A5)

What it does: Adds all numbers in the range A1 to A5.

Example Use Case: Calculate total monthly expenses by summing values in an expense column.

2. AVERAGE – Find the Mean Value

Formula:

=AVERAGE(B1:B5)

What it does: Returns the average of all the values in a given range.

Example Use Case: Determine the average test score of students in a class.

3. IF – Make Logical Decisions

Formula:

=IF(A1>100, "High", "Low")

What it does: Checks if A1 is greater than 100. If yes, returns “High”; otherwise, “Low”.

Example Use Case: Label sales values as “High” or “Low” based on performance.

4. COUNT – Count Numeric Entries

Formula:

=COUNT(A1:A10)

What it does: Counts how many cells in the range have numeric values.

Example Use Case: Count how many students submitted their grades numerically.

5. COUNTA – Count Non-Empty Cells

Formula:

=COUNTA(A1:A10)

What it does: Counts all cells that are not empty—text, numbers, or formulas.

Example Use Case: Count how many fields in a survey were filled out.

6. COUNTIF – Count with a Condition

Formula:

=COUNTIF(B1:B10, ">50")

What it does: Counts the number of cells in B1 to B10 that are greater than 50.

Example Use Case: Count how many employees scored more than 50 in a performance review.

7. SUMIF – Add with a Condition

Formula:

=SUMIF(A1:A10, ">100")

What it does: Adds up the values in A1 to A10 that are greater than 100.

Example Use Case: Total the revenue from transactions greater than $100.

8. VLOOKUP – Search Vertically

Formula:

=VLOOKUP(101, A2:C10, 3, FALSE)

What it does: Looks for 101 in column A and returns the corresponding value from column C.

Example Use Case: Find the name or price of a product by looking up its ID.

9. HLOOKUP – Search Horizontally

Formula:

=HLOOKUP("March", A1:D3, 2, FALSE)

What it does: Searches for “March” in the top row and returns the corresponding value from the second row.

Example Use Case: Retrieve monthly expenses or revenue from a horizontal table.

10. INDEX – Get Value by Position

Formula:

=INDEX(A1:C3, 2, 3)

What it does: Returns the value at the 2nd row and 3rd column in the range.

Example Use Case: Use with MATCH for dynamic lookups.

11. MATCH – Find Position of a Value

Formula:

=MATCH(75, A1:A10, 0)

What it does: Returns the relative position of 75 in the range.

Example Use Case: See where a specific score appears in a list.

12. LEN – Count Characters

Formula:

=LEN(A1)

What it does: Counts the number of characters in a cell, including spaces.

Example Use Case: Check if a phone number has the correct number of digits.

13. TRIM – Remove Extra Spaces

Formula:

=TRIM(A1)

What it does: Removes extra spaces from text—helpful for cleaning imported data.

Example Use Case: Clean up names or email addresses with extra spaces.

14. LEFT, RIGHT, MID – Extract Parts of Text

=LEFT(A1, 5)     → First 5 characters  
=RIGHT(A1, 3)    → Last 3 characters  
=MID(A1, 2, 4)   → 4 characters starting from position 2

What they do: Extract text from the left, right, or middle of a string.

Example Use Case: Separate area codes from phone numbers or extract order IDs.

15. CONCATENATE / TEXTJOIN – Combine Text

Formula:

=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)
=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A1:A3)

What they do: Join multiple text strings into one.

Example Use Case: Combine first and last names into a full name.

16. NOW – Current Date & Time

Formula:

=NOW()

What it does: Returns current system date and time.

Example Use Case: Timestamp reports or invoices automatically.

17. TODAY – Get Today’s Date

Formula:

=TODAY()

What it does: Returns today’s date, updated automatically.

Example Use Case: Track deadlines or overdue tasks.

18. TEXT – Format Numbers as Text

Formula:

=TEXT(A1, "MM/DD/YYYY")

What it does: Converts a number or date into a specific format as text.

Example Use Case: Format a number as currency or date in reports.

19. ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN – Round Numbers

Formulas:

=ROUND(A1, 2)     → 2 decimal places  
=ROUNDUP(A1, 0)   → Round up to whole number  
=ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) → Round down to whole number

What they do: Round numbers up, down, or normally.

Example Use Case: Round financial data to standard formats.

RELATED: Excel Shortcut

20. IFERROR – Handle Errors Gracefully

Formula:

=IFERROR(A1/B1, "Error")

What it does: Prevents ugly error messages by replacing them with custom text.

Example Use Case: Handle division by zero or missing lookup values.

21. AND, OR – Multiple Logic Checks

=AND(A1>0, B1<100)  
=OR(A1="Yes", B1="Approved")

What they do: Test multiple conditions in an IF statement.

Example Use Case: Approve applications that meet multiple criteria.

22. ISNUMBER, ISTEXT – Check Cell Type

=ISNUMBER(A1)  
=ISTEXT(B1)

What they do: Confirm whether a cell contains a number or text.

Example Use Case: Validate data inputs before processing.

23. PROPER, UPPER, LOWER – Change Case of Text

=PROPER("john doe") → John Doe  
=UPPER("text")      → TEXT  
=LOWER("TEXT")      → text

What they do: Standardize the case of text data.

Example Use Case: Format names or addresses consistently.

24. RANDBETWEEN – Random Numbers Between Two Values

Formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(1, 100)

What it does: Generates a random whole number between the two values.

Example Use Case: Create dummy data or conduct simulations.

25. UNIQUE – Return Unique Values (Excel 365/2019+)

Formula:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10)

What it does: Returns a list of unique entries from a range.

Example Use Case: Filter out duplicate email addresses or names.

The post Top 25 Excel Formulas for Beginners—Learn to Work Smarter, Not Harder! appeared first on XcelNote.

Whether you’re an Excel beginner or looking to sharpen your data analysis skills, this guide will help you master the VLOOKUP formula in Excel effectively.

ALSO READ: How to Remove Duplicates in Excel? 2 Quick and Simple Ways

What is VLOOKUP in Excel?

VLOOKUP (Vertical Lookup) is an Excel function used to find specific data in a vertical column of a table. It’s widely used in data analysis, financial modeling, and reporting.

Syntax of the VLOOKUP Function

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

Explanation:

• lookup_value – The value you want to search for.
• table_array – The range of cells that contains the data.
• col_index_num—The column number in the table from which to retrieve the value.
• range_lookup—Optional. Use FALSE for an exact match, TRUE for an approximate match.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Ensure your data is organized with the lookup column (the one you’re searching in) as the first column in your table array.

Example Dataset:

Step 2: Enter the VLOOKUP Formula

Let’s say you want to find the price of the product with ID 102.

Place the following formula in a cell:

=VLOOKUP(102, A2:C4, 3, FALSE)

This tells Excel:

• Look for 102 in the first column of the range A2:C4
• Return the value from the 3rd column (Price)
• Use FALSE to get an exact match

Result:

$15

ALSO READ: What is the excel formula for subtracting

VLOOKUP Example with Cell Reference

Instead of typing the lookup value manually, you can use a cell reference.

=VLOOKUP(A4, A2:C4, 3, FALSE)

If E2 contains 103, the formula returns $200.

Using VLOOKUP for Approximate Match

VLOOKUP can also return approximate matches, useful for things like grading or commission slabs.

Example:

Formula:

=VLOOKUP(75, A2:B6, 2, TRUE)

This returns C because 75 is closest to 70 without exceeding it.

Common Errors with VLOOKUP and How to Fix Them

1. #N/A Error

• Occurs when the value isn’t found.
• Fix: Check for typos or use IFERROR:=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(102, A2:C4, 3, FALSE), "Not Found")

2. #REF! Error

• Column index is out of range.
• Fix: Ensure your column index is valid within your table range.

Tips to Use VLOOKUP Effectively

• Always lock your table_array using absolute references ($A$2:$C$4) when copying formulas.
• VLOOKUP only searches left to right—it can’t look left in the table.
• Use named ranges for clarity and easier maintenance.
• For left-lookup functionality, use INDEX and MATCH as an alternative.

Advanced: Combine VLOOKUP with Other Excel Functions

Example: VLOOKUP with IF

=IF(VLOOKUP(E2, A2:C4, 3, FALSE) > 100, "Expensive", "Affordable")

This returns “Expensive” if the product price is greater than 100.

When to Use VLOOKUP in Excel

Use VLOOKUP when:

• You have a large dataset and need to find matching values.
• You’re working with structured tables.
• You need a simple, quick solution for vertical lookup tasks.

VLOOKUP vs. XLOOKUP: What’s the Difference?

Note: XLOOKUP is available in Excel 365 and Excel 2019+.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to use VLOOKUP in Excel opens up powerful data management capabilities. From simple lookups to combining functions for more advanced operations, VLOOKUP is a must-have in your Excel toolkit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can VLOOKUP search from right to left?

No. Use INDEX + MATCH or XLOOKUP instead.

Q2: Is VLOOKUP case-sensitive?

No. Use INDEX + MATCH + EXACT for case-sensitive lookups.

Q3: What is the limit of VLOOKUP in Excel?

It can search up to 255 columns but is limited to vertical lookup.

The post How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel – A Step-by-Step Guide (With Examples) appeared first on XcelNote.