MS Excel’s VLOOKUP function is used when we need to find things in a table or in a range by row. It makes our task easy in terms of searching for something in the given in range. Using this somewhat versatile function we can get a maximum of multiple values in Excel. In this article, I will show various ways to find the VLOOKUP max of multiple values in Excel.
Find the Max of Multiple Values by Using the VLOOKUP Function in Excel: 2 Handy Ways
In this article, we will demonstrate to find ways to the VLOOKUP max of multiple values in Excel by combining the VLOOKUP and MAX functions and nesting the VLOOKUP and MAXIFS functions to find the maximum value.
Method 1: Combining VLOOKUP and MAX Functions to Find Max of Multiple Values
Let’s say we have a dataset of some food order lists with their Name, Quantity, Delivery date, Status, and Price. Now our task is to find out the price of the maximum quantity from the given dataset.
Steps:
- Firstly, choose the E15 cell.
- Then, write down the following formula in cell E15.
- After that, press Enter.
=VLOOKUP(MAX(C5:C13),C5:D13,2,0)
- VLOOKUP (value, table, col_index, [range_lookup]) this is the syntax of the VLOOKUP function where MAX(C5:C13) is the value, C5:D13 is the table, 2 is the col_index, and lastly, 0 is [range_lookup].
- Here MAX(C5:C13) is our lookup value. That means the maximum value from the quantity column will be the lookup value.
- C5:D13 is the table array or simply we can say the range where we will find the value.
- As we have two columns that’s why 2 is used as a column index number
- Lastly, 0 is used as we want an exact match.
- Finally, you will get the maximum quantity price in the below image.
- Now you can change any value from the quantity column and see the change on the output box. For instance, I have changed the Cheese quantity from 9 to 90.
- As we have found the new quantity number 90 that’s why the maximum quantity price is changed automatically.
Read More: How to VLOOKUP Multiple Values in One Cell in Excel
Method 2: Nesting VLOOKUP and MAXIFS Functions for Finding the Max Value with Multiple Criteria
Now we will see how to find maximum values using some conditions. Our concern will be to find the name of the food which has a maximum ID where the quantity is less than 10 and the price is greater than $1200.
Steps:
- Firstly, select the G15 cell.
- Secondly, write down the following formula in cell F14.
- Then, press Enter
=VLOOKUP(MAXIFS(B5:B13,D5:D13,"<10",E5:E13,">1200"),B5:G13,2,FALSE)
- MAXIFS(B5:B13,D5:D13,”<10″,E5:E13,”>1200″) this part will return the maximum ID number where the quantity is less than 10 and the price is greater than $1200.
- Then the VLOOKUP function will return the Name of the matched ID. Here 2 is used as our name is in the second column. And FALSE or 0 is used to get the exact match.
- Finally, you will find the name of the food which has a maximum ID where the quantity is less than 10 and the price is greater than $1200.
Read More: VLOOKUP to Return Multiple Values Horizontally in Excel
Reasons Behind VLOOKUP Function Not Working in Excel
| Common Errors | When they show |
|---|---|
| #N/A | In the VLOOKUP function if range_lookup is TRUE, then if the value in the lookup_value is smaller than the smallest value in the first column of the table_array, you’ll get the #N/A error value.#REF! |
| #REF! | If col_index_num is greater than the number of columns in table array, you’ll get the #REF! error value. |
| #VALUE! | If the table_array is less than 1, you’ll get the #VALUE! error value. |
| #NAME? | The #NAME? error value normally means that the formula is missing quotes. |
| #SPILL! | This particular #SPILL! The error usually means that your formula is relying on the implicit intersection for the lookup value and using an entire column as a reference. |
- In the VLOOKUP function to declare match type, we can either use 0,1 or TRUE, FALSE.
- If range_lookup is TRUE or left out, the first column needs to be sorted alphabetically or numerically. If the first column isn’t sorted, the return value might be something you don’t expect. Either sort the first column or use FALSE for an exact match.
Download Practice Workbook
You may download the following Excel workbook for better understanding and practice it by yourself.
Conclusion
These are some ways to find the max of multiple values by applying the VLOOKUP function in Excel. I have shown all the methods with their respective examples but there can be many other iterations. I have also discussed the fundamentals of the used functions. If you have any other method of achieving this, then please feel free to share it with us.
Related Articles
- How to Use Excel VLOOKUP to Return Multiple Values Vertically
- How to Use VLOOKUP Function on Multiple Rows in Excel
- Excel VLOOKUP Function to Return Min Value from Multiple Hits
- How to Vlookup and Return Multiple Values in Drop Down List
- Excel VLOOKUP to Return Multiple Values in One Cell Separated by Comma
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