INDEX-MATCH Formula Generator
INDEX-MATCH is a powerful combination that can look up values in any direction — left, right, or across sheets. It's more flexible than VLOOKUP and often faster on large datasets.
Syntax
=INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))Try it — generate a INDEX-MATCH formula
Examples
Look up a value to the left
=INDEX(A:A, MATCH(D1, C:C, 0))Finds D1 in column C, returns the corresponding value from column A (looking left — impossible with VLOOKUP).
Two-way lookup (row and column)
=INDEX(B2:F10, MATCH("Q1", A2:A10, 0), MATCH("Sales", B1:F1, 0))Finds the intersection of "Q1" row and "Sales" column in a data table.
Tips
- ✓Use 0 as the third argument in MATCH for exact matches.
- ✓INDEX-MATCH is generally faster than VLOOKUP on large datasets because it doesn't scan the entire table.
- ✓You can use INDEX-MATCH for two-dimensional lookups by nesting two MATCH functions.
Related Formulas
VLOOKUP
VLOOKUP searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value ...
XLOOKUP
XLOOKUP is the modern replacement for VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. It can search in any ...
FILTER
FILTER returns rows from a range that meet specified conditions. It's like AutoF...
Need a different formula?
Describe any formula in plain English and FormulaPad will generate it.
Try FormulaPad Free