What is XLOOKUP?
XLOOKUP is a spreadsheet function that searches one range for a value and returns the matching item from another range. It replaces VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP for most lookups and is available in current versions of Excel and Google Sheets.
XLOOKUP syntax
The first three arguments are required:
XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])
lookup_value is what you are looking for, lookup_array is where to look and return_array is what to bring back. The optional arguments set a fallback value, exact or approximate matching, and the search direction.
An XLOOKUP example
To find the price of product code B-204, with codes in A2:A500 and prices in D2:D500:
- =XLOOKUP("B-204", A2:A500, D2:D500, "Not listed")
If B-204 is missing, the cell shows “Not listed” instead of an error.
XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP
- XLOOKUP can look to the left; VLOOKUP only returns columns to the right of the lookup column.
- XLOOKUP defaults to an exact match; VLOOKUP defaults to approximate, a common source of wrong answers.
- XLOOKUP points at the return range directly, so inserting a column does not break it; VLOOKUP’s column number does.
- XLOOKUP has a built-in fallback for missing values.
Handling missing values: XLOOKUP if not found
The fourth argument replaces the usual #N/A error with something readable, such as 0 or “Not listed”. For XLOOKUP multiple criteria, a common pattern multiplies the conditions inside the lookup array: =XLOOKUP(1, (A2:A500="North") * (B2:B500="Q3"), C2:C500). XLOOKUP is among the 60-plus functions Arkenso Docs supports, alongside VLOOKUP and SUMIF.
Last reviewed 2026-11-01.