Sometimes while working with multiple columns you often need to match your two columns to return the third value. In this article, we will see how to match two columns in Excel and return a third.
Match Two Columns and Return a Third in Excel : 3 Easy Methods
Here we will be comparing two columns where there exist some same values. If the two values get matched then it will return third column values where the values will be corresponding results of the 1st column.
Let’s look into the below table where we have some product IDs along with their corresponding prices. We create another column with the heading Product ID-2. Here we will be comparing the columns Product ID and Product ID-2 to return the value from the Price column in the Price-2 column.
1. Use of VLOOKUP Function to Match Two Columns and Return a Third in Excel
In the first method, I will show you the use of the VLOOKUP function. Let’s do it step by step.
Steps:
- Go to F5 and write down the following formula
=VLOOKUP(E5,$B$5:$C$15,2,FALSE)
Formula Explanation:
- Here, the lookup value is E5.
- The array is B5:C15.
- The column index number is 2. So Excel will return the corresponding price for E5. (because the price is in the 2nd column of the array)
- Then, press ENTER to get the output.
- After that, use the Fill Handle to AutoFill up to F9.
Read More: How to Compare Two Columns in Excel for Match
2. Combination of INDEX-MATCH Functions to Match Two Columns and Return a Third in Excel
The next method is an important one. Here, I will use a combination of the INDEX and MATCH Functions. Let’s see the steps.
Steps:
- Go to F5 and write down the following formula
=INDEX($C$5:$C$15,MATCH(E5,$B$5:$B$15))
Formula Breakdown:
- MATCH(E5,$B$5:$B$15) → Excel will return the relative position 1002 in the array B5:B15.
- Output: {2}
- INDEX($C$5:$C$15,MATCH(E5,$B$5:$B$15)) → This becomes
- INDEX($C$5:$C$15,2)
- Output: {1029}
- Now, press ENTER to get the output.
- Finally, use the Fill Handle to AutoFill up to F9.
Read More: How to Compare 3 Columns for Matches in Excel
3. Combination of IF, INDEX, and MATCH Functions to Match Two Columns and Return a Third in Excel
Now, I will show another method. For this method, I have changed the dataset a little bit.
This time, I will match both the Product ID and Category and get the price. A combination of the IF, INDEX, and MATCH functions will work here.
Steps:
- Go to G7 and write down the following formula
=INDEX(D5:D15,MATCH(G5,IF(C5:C15=G6,B5:B15),0))
Formula Breakdown:
- C5:C15=G6 → This is the logical test for the IF The condition is an array condition.
- Output: TRUE is for Category C, and FALSE is for other categories. {FALSE;FALSE;TRUE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE}
- B5:B15 → This is the value if the test is TRUE.
- MATCH(G5,IF(C5:C15=G6,B5:B15),0)) → G5 is the lookup value and the lookup array is IF(C5:C15=G6,B5:B15), that means Excel will look for PID-1001 from {FALSE;FALSE;”PID-1005″;”PID-1001″;FALSE;FALSE;”PID-1009″;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE} and get you the relative position.
- Output: {4}
- INDEX(D5:D15,MATCH(G5,IF(C5:C15=G6,B5:B15),0)) → This becomes
- INDEX(D5:D15,4)
- Output: {2186}
- Then, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to get the output. This is because it’s an array formula. You will see a pair of 2nd brackets appear in the formula which contains the formula inside it.
Things to Remember
- The absolute reference is for locking a range.
- CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER is for array formulas.
Download Practice Workbook
Download this workbook and practice while going through this article.
Conclusion
A comparison between columns to find matches and result in a value from a different column is a common practice in Excel. Knowing the solutions to this kind of problem makes your work easier in many cases. I hope you liked the articles. Please leave a comment and give your valuable suggestions. Goodbye!
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the same can be done with SUMPRODUCT: SUMPRODUCT((A2:A12=F2)*(B2:B12=F3)*C2:C12)
Better formula as you can compare more than just two cell, the only downside is that it will return with “0” and not #N/A which cause an issue if you are comparing data from two different time.
Thanks, Emil!
Freat, I loved it.
Thanks.
How To Compare Two Columns with the single-cell And Return in multiple Values From The second Column In the single cell of Excel?
Hi MAHENDRA TRIVEDI! You can use the following formula to compare two columns and return multiple matches in a single cell:
=TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,IF(A5:A15=D5,B5:B15,""))Here,
A5:A15= Range for matching criteria
B5:B15 = Range of the values to return
D5= Lookup value
TRUE ignores all the empty cells.
Check the 3rd case of the following article to know more details.
hhttps://www.exceldemy.com/index-match-return-multiple-values-vertically/
Thanks for being with us. Best regards.
I am keeping a note of your problem. Thanks.
Great work. Thanks.
Thanks, Uche.
Hi. Thanks for this. Can you use this formula when the looked up values are on a different sheet ?
If you’ve some specific problem, let us know via email, we shall try to make a blog post with your problem.
Thanks for this however when I try to run this on my data I always get a #VALUE! error on the second column range of data
https://i.imgur.com/ysJTNYR.png
Nevermind dont know what changed but I got it working. thanks again!
That’s great Griffin, I hope you get benefited from our articles.