VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP: Complete Comparison Guide (2025)

Updated: December 2025•12 min read

Quick Answer: XLOOKUP is better: searches any direction, no column counting, built-in errors. VLOOKUP only searches right, needs column numbers. XLOOKUP: =XLOOKUP(A2,D:D,F:F). VLOOKUP: =VLOOKUP(A2,D:F,3,0). Requires Excel 365/2021.

VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP: The Basics

VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP are both Excel lookup functions that search for a value and return corresponding data. XLOOKUP is the modern replacement for VLOOKUP, offering significantly more flexibility and easier syntax.

VLOOKUP

Vertical Lookup - Searches the first column of a table and returns a value from a specified column to the right.

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value,
         table_array,
         col_index_num,
         [range_lookup])
✓Available in all Excel versions
✓Works with older files
✗Only searches left to right
✗Requires column index numbers
✗Breaks when columns are added

XLOOKUP NEW

Extended Lookup - Searches any range in any direction and returns data from any column. Modern replacement for VLOOKUP.

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value,
         lookup_array,
         return_array,
         [if_not_found])
✓Searches in any direction
✓No column counting needed
✓Built-in error handling
✓Returns multiple values
✗Excel 365/2021 only

📌 Key Difference

VLOOKUP searches vertically (down) in the first column and can only return values to the right of the lookup column.

XLOOKUP can search any column and return values from any direction (left, right, up, down).

Simple Example Comparison

Task: Find employee salary by searching for their name

VLOOKUP:

=VLOOKUP("John",
  A2:C100,
  3,
  FALSE)

Needs column index (3) and FALSE for exact match

XLOOKUP:

=XLOOKUP("John",
  A2:A100,
  C2:C100)

Direct column references, exact match by default

XLOOKUP is 40% shorter and easier to read

Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureVLOOKUPXLOOKUP
Search Direction
Left to right only
Any direction (left, right, up, down)
Column References
Requires column index numbers
Direct column references
Error Handling
Returns #N/A error
Custom error messages built-in
Dynamic Columns
Breaks when columns added/removed
Adapts automatically
Multiple Results
−Returns one value only
Can return entire rows/columns
Performance
−Slower with large datasets
20-30% faster, optimized search
Syntax Complexity
4 arguments, confusing FALSE/TRUE
3 arguments, intuitive
Excel Compatibility
All Excel versions
Excel 365 & 2021 only
Wildcard Search
−Supported with approximate match
Supported with wildcard mode
Binary Search
−Manual setup required
Built-in binary search mode

When to Use VLOOKUP

  • •Working with Excel 2019 or older versions
  • •Sharing files with users who don't have Excel 365
  • •Maintaining compatibility with legacy workbooks
  • •Simple lookups in small datasets (performance doesn't matter)

When to Use XLOOKUP

  • •You have Excel 365 or Excel 2021
  • •Need to search left (return data before lookup column)
  • •Working with dynamic tables (columns change frequently)
  • •Large datasets requiring better performance
  • •Need custom error messages or multiple return values

💡 Pro Tip: Migration Strategy

If you're transitioning from VLOOKUP to XLOOKUP, keep both versions in your file temporarily:

  1. Create XLOOKUP formulas in adjacent columns
  2. Verify results match VLOOKUP perfectly
  3. Test with edge cases and error scenarios
  4. Once confident, replace VLOOKUP with XLOOKUP
  5. Keep a backup copy with VLOOKUP for compatibility

Practical Examples: VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP

Example 1: Basic Employee Lookup

Scenario: Find employee department by searching their ID in a table (Columns: ID, Name, Department, Salary)

VLOOKUP Formula:

=VLOOKUP(E2, A2:D100, 3, FALSE)

// E2 = Employee ID to find
// A2:D100 = Full table range
// 3 = Department is 3rd column
// FALSE = Exact match

XLOOKUP Formula:

=XLOOKUP(E2, A2:A100, C2:C100)

// E2 = Employee ID to find
// A2:A100 = ID column
// C2:C100 = Department column
// Exact match by default

Result: Both return "Sales" if ID 1045 is in the Sales department.

✓ XLOOKUP is clearer - you can see exactly which columns you're using.

Example 2: Looking Left (VLOOKUP Can't Do This)

Scenario: Find employee ID by searching their name (ID is left of Name column)

VLOOKUP Solution:

// VLOOKUP CANNOT do this!
// Must use INDEX/MATCH instead:

=INDEX(A2:A100, 
  MATCH(E2, B2:B100, 0))

Complex workaround required

XLOOKUP Solution:

=XLOOKUP(E2, B2:B100, A2:A100)

// E2 = Name to find
// B2:B100 = Name column (search)
// A2:A100 = ID column (return)
// Works perfectly!

Simple and intuitive

Result: XLOOKUP finds the ID even though it's left of the search column.

✓ This is XLOOKUP's biggest advantage over VLOOKUP!

Example 3: Custom Error Messages

Scenario: Show "Not Found" instead of #N/A error when employee doesn't exist

VLOOKUP Solution:

=IFERROR(
  VLOOKUP(E2, A2:D100, 3, FALSE),
  "Not Found"
)

// Must wrap in IFERROR
// Longer formula

XLOOKUP Solution:

=XLOOKUP(E2,
  A2:A100,
  C2:C100,
  "Not Found"
)

// Built-in 4th argument
// Much cleaner

Result: Both show "Not Found" for non-existent employees, but XLOOKUP is built-in.

Example 4: Return Entire Row

Scenario: Return Name, Department, AND Salary in one formula

VLOOKUP Solution:

// VLOOKUP needs 3 separate formulas!

=VLOOKUP(E2, A:D, 2, 0)  // Name
=VLOOKUP(E2, A:D, 3, 0)  // Dept
=VLOOKUP(E2, A:D, 4, 0)  // Salary

Inefficient - searches 3 times

XLOOKUP Solution:

=XLOOKUP(E2,
  A2:A100,
  B2:D100
)

// Returns all 3 columns at once!
// Spills into adjacent cells

Single formula, searches once

Result: XLOOKUP returns all columns simultaneously (dynamic array).

✓ XLOOKUP is 3x more efficient!

🔄 Quick Conversion Guide

VLOOKUP Pattern:

=VLOOKUP(lookup, A:D, 3, FALSE)

↓ Converts to ↓

=XLOOKUP(lookup, A:A, C:C)

Conversion Steps:

  1. Identify the lookup column (1st column of VLOOKUP range)
  2. Identify the return column (use column index to find it)
  3. Replace table range with separate lookup and return ranges
  4. Remove column index and FALSE/0 arguments
  5. Test with a few values to verify results match

💡 Performance Tip

In large datasets (10,000+ rows), XLOOKUP is 20-30% faster than VLOOKUP because:

  • Optimized binary search algorithm
  • Searches only the lookup column (not entire table)
  • Better memory management

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use XLOOKUP in Excel 2019?

No, XLOOKUP only works in Excel 365 and Excel 2021. If you have Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, or older, you must use VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH instead. Check your version: File > Account > About Excel.

Will my VLOOKUP formulas stop working?

No, VLOOKUP is not being removed from Excel. It still works perfectly and Microsoft maintains backward compatibility. However, Microsoft recommends using XLOOKUP for new workbooks in Excel 365.

How do I convert all my VLOOKUP formulas to XLOOKUP?

Convert manually using Find & Replace with careful testing: 1) Create XLOOKUP versions in adjacent columns, 2) Verify results match, 3) Test edge cases, 4) Replace original formulas. There's no automatic converter, so backup your file first.

What happens if I share XLOOKUP files with Excel 2019 users?

XLOOKUP formulas will show #NAME? error in older Excel versions. The recipient won't be able to use the formulas. For compatibility, use VLOOKUP or include a compatibility sheet with VLOOKUP versions.

Is XLOOKUP slower than VLOOKUP?

No, XLOOKUP is faster. In tests with 10,000+ rows, XLOOKUP is 20-30% faster due to optimized search algorithms and binary search mode. For small datasets (<1000 rows), the difference is negligible.

Can XLOOKUP replace INDEX/MATCH?

Yes, XLOOKUP replaces INDEX/MATCH in most cases. XLOOKUP is easier to write and understand. INDEX/MATCH is still useful for very specific advanced scenarios, but XLOOKUP handles 95% of lookup needs more elegantly.

Does XLOOKUP work with approximate match?

Yes, XLOOKUP supports approximate match with the match_mode argument. Use -1 for exact match or next smallest, 1 for exact or next largest. Binary search mode can make approximate match even faster on sorted data.

Why is my XLOOKUP returning #N/A?

Common causes: 1) Lookup value doesn't exist in lookup array, 2) Data types don't match (text vs number), 3) Extra spaces in data, 4) Lookup array and return array are different sizes. Use the 4th argument (if_not_found) to show custom errors.

Still Have Questions?

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