How to Use IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP in Excel

Today I will be showing how you can use the VLOOKUP in combination with the IF and ISNA functions of Excel.

One of the most important and widely used functions of Excel is VLOOKUP. But while using VLOOKUP, we may sometimes face errors when the lookup value doesn’t match any value in the lookup array.

The ISNA functions of Excel come in handy in these situations. ISNA in combination with IF provides us with the opportunity to search for another value if the first value doesn’t match. This is quite useful for large sets of data.

IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP (Quick View)

Download Practice Workbook

3 Examples of Using IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP

Let’s look at some examples of using the IF and ISNA functions with VLOOKUP.

1. Using IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP in Same Table

Here we have a data set with the BOOK Types, Names, and Authors of some books in a bookshop called Martin Bookstore.

Steps:

• Now first we will look for a book type of poetry. If a book type of poetry isn’t available, then we will look for a novel. A combination of the IF, ISNA, and VLOOKUP is the perfect match here.
• The formula will be-

• See, we have got a Novel, Oliver Twist, as there was no book of Poetry.

Explanation of the Formula

• VLOOKUP(“Poetry”,B5:D17,2,FALSE) returns #N/A error, as there was no book type called “Poetry” in the first column of table B5:D17.

• ISNA(VLOOKUP(“Poetry”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)) becomes ISNA(#N/A) and it returns TRUE.

• IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(“Poetry”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)),VLOOKUP(“Novel”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)) now becomes IF(TRUE,VLOOKUP(“Novel”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)) which returns VLOOKUP(“Novel”,B5:D17,2,FALSE).
• VLOOKUP(“Novel”,B5:D17,2,FALSE) searches for a “Novel” in the first column of table B5:D17 (Book Type). After finding one, it returns the Book Name from column 2, Oliver Twist.

• Therefore, IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(“Poetry”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)),VLOOKUP(“Novel”,B5:D17,2,FALSE)) returns “Oliver Twist”.

Read More: How to Use VLOOKUP in VBA (4 Ways)

2. Using IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP in a Different Table but the Same Worksheet

Here we have another data set with the book records of two book stores, Martin Bookstore and Holder Bookstore.

This time we will search for a poetry book in the first book shop. If we do not find it there, we will search in the second book store.

• The formula will be-

See, when it does not find a novel in the first bookstore, it searches for one in the second bookstore (G4:I20) and finds one called “Ode to the Nightingale”, by John Keats.

For a detailed explanation of the formula, see example 1.

Read More: VLOOKUP Formula in Excel with Multiple Sheets (4 Simple Tips)

Similar Readings

• How to VLOOKUP from Multiple Columns with Only One Return in Excel (2 Ways)
• VLOOKUP SUM Multiple Rows (4 Ways with Alternative)
• VLOOKUP to Search Text in Excel (4 Easy Ways)
• INDIRECT VLOOKUP in Excel
• VLOOKUP with Numbers in Excel (4 Examples)

3. Using IF ISNA Function with VLOOKUP in a Different Worksheet

Finally, we have another data set with the book records of two book stores, but this time in two different worksheets.

Steps:

• First, we will search for a poetry book in the Martin Bookstore. If we do not find it there, we will search in the Holder Bookstore.
• We enter this formula in the worksheet called “Martin Bookstore”-

• It searches for a Poetry book in the Martin Bookstore. When doesn’t find it there, searches for one in the Holder Bookstore (‘Holder Bookstore’!B6:D18), and finds one there Ode to the Nightingale by John Keats.

For a detailed explanation of the formula, see example 1.

Read More: How to Pull Data from Multiple Worksheets in Excel (4 Quick Ways)

Alternative Options of IF ISNA

From Excel 2013, an alternative option of the IF ISNA function is available. This is called the IFNA function.

The Syntax of the IFNA function is-

The IFNA formula to first search for a poetry book, and then search for a novel if any poetry is not available will be:

• Press ENTER to get the final result.

Read More: VLOOKUP Max Value in Excel (With Limitations and Alternative Options)

Conclusion

Thus you can use the IF ISNA function with VLOOKUP to search for a value in a table and do another thing if you don’t find the value there. Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask us.

Further Readings

• Combine SUMIF and VLOOKUP in Excel (3 Quick Approaches)
• XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP in Excel (Comparative Analysis)
• Combining SUMPRODUCT and VLOOKUP in Excel (2 Examples)
• How to Compare Two Columns in Excel Using VLOOKUP
• VLOOKUP Formula to Compare Two Columns in Different Sheets!
• 10 Best Practices with VLOOKUP in Excel