Excel VLOOKUP: Basics of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP explained with examples: Excel learning resource
Excel VLOOKUP: Basics of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP explained with examples
Gharani opens by contrasting VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP conceptually before building a VLOOKUP formula from scratch on a sample pricing table.
Excel VLOOKUP: Basics of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP explained with examples
Leila Gharani
Open on YouTube (opens in a new tab)What this video actually covers
Gharani opens by contrasting VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP conceptually before building a VLOOKUP formula from scratch on a sample pricing table. She spends real time on the difference between exact and approximate match (the formula's fourth argument) and why leaving it on approximate by accident is a common source of wrong results, then shows VLOOKUP nested inside a larger formula. The second half repeats the same lookup horizontally with HLOOKUP, and the video closes by explaining the one-directional limitation both functions share — neither can look to the left of the lookup column — which is the practical reason to eventually move to INDEX/MATCH or XLOOKUP.
Where to jump in
What to practice while watching
- Build a VLOOKUP formula that pulls price from the practice dataset's product table using an exact match (FALSE) as the last argument.
- Switch the match argument to TRUE (or omit it) on the same data and compare the result — the mistake this video warns about.
- Nest your VLOOKUP inside another formula, for example multiplying the returned price by a quantity column.
- Repeat the same lookup with HLOOKUP against a horizontally laid-out version of the same data.
- Try to look up a column that sits to the left of your lookup column and confirm VLOOKUP fails — the limitation the video ends on.
Exercise file
Practice the steps above on a real workbook instead of a blank sheet — no sign-up required.
Download VLOOKUP / XLOOKUP practice dataset (.xlsx)Recommended learning path
Start by watching the lesson once without pausing, then reopen Excel and rebuild the example with your own small dataset. Save one clean practice workbook before moving to the next topic.
Source details
- Channel: Leila Gharani
- Format: video
- Level: Intermediate
- Topic: Formulas & Functions
Go deeper with this skill
Write formulas that are correct, readable, and resilient when the workbook changes. For this article, the goal is to practice: Gharani opens by contrasting VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP conceptually before building a VLOOKUP formula from scratch on a sample pricing table.
Practice workbook setup
Create a small table with clean headers, sample edge cases, and expected outputs you can check manually.
Practice workflow
- Write the business rule in plain English before writing the formula.
- Build the formula in small pieces and test each piece.
- Use absolute references, table references, or named ranges intentionally.
- Test blanks, missing values, duplicate matches, and unexpected text.
Quality checks
- The formula returns the expected result for normal and edge-case rows.
- References point to stable ranges or tables.
- Someone else can understand the formula after reading the labels around it.
Common mistakes
- Fixing one row without testing the rest of the column.
- Using approximate match or partial criteria without meaning to.
- Letting hidden spaces or text numbers cause false mismatches.
Next actions
- Create three test rows that should return different outcomes.
- Compare the result with an alternate formula or manual filter.
Formula focus: even if this workflow is not formula-heavy, add one check cell that confirms the final output still matches the source data.
