HLOOKUP Video Tutorial

HLOOKUP

What is HLOOKUP?

HLOOKUP is exactly like VLOOKUP, except for two things - one letter and one word. The one letter that's different is the letter H and the one word that is different is row. 

With HLOOKUP column index number gets replaced with the row index number. That's because you're going to find the lookup value horizontally in a row. 

HLOOKUP Example

So let's take a look at how this would work with this table. Now I'm going to click into the cell that's to the right of K77 and resist the urge to type V L. Instead, I'll type in H L. Then I can press tab. The lookup value is going to be selected exactly the same way we would select the lookup value. And if you look up, that's the cell to the left. I enter a comma. The table array is going to be selected exactly the same way the table array would be selected when you're using a VLOOKUP. OK, so now this is where it's different. 

Instead of counting the column in the next number, we're gonna count the row index number for the value level. That value is going to be found in the first column. So one, two, three. I needed to count three rows down to find level. So the answer to that is three. 

I'll enter a comma. Just like VLOOKUP. We'll choose the default for an exact match. I'll press, enter and I'm able to find the level for the I.D K77. And if I take a look at the answer, I'll see that is indeed the level for K77. 

So this is a situation where someone was crazy enough to put all the I.D. numbers, where the headers usually go and put the headers where the I.D. numbers usually go. 

Transposing Data

In fact, I could use VLOOKUP instead, but I would have to do something first to this table to be able to use VLOOKUP. I usually ask the class, does anyone know what that is? And 100 percent of the time people always say transpose. So I'll press control C. I'll go to another part of the sheet. Bring up pay special and she's transpose when I click OK, this table should look very familiar to you if you remember the VLOOKUP exercise because this is the same exact table. All we did was change the orientation in this exercise so we could use HLOOKUP instead. 

Recap

So in a nutshell, that is an HLOOKUP. You're going to look for the row index value inside of the first column of the table you're selecting. It is very similar to a VLOOKUP but works by finding a row rather than a column.