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How to VLOOKUP Multiple Columns in

Google Sheets?
Last updated April 22, 2022

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VLOOKUP formula (or Vertical lookup) in Google Sheets is a formula that you can use to look for a value in a
columnar data set.

For example, if you have a list of student names and their scores, you can use VLOOKUP to nd the score of a
particular student in a speci c subject.

VLOOKUP is an extremely useful and popular Google Sheets function that is used by millions of people on a
daily basis.
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By default, the VLOOKUP formula can only look for a value in one column. But what if you want to look up of 2022
multiple columns and then fetch the corresponding value.

For example, you have a full name (say Mark Wilson) as the lookup value but in your data set, you have the
rst and the last name in two separate columns.

In such a case, you need to somehow use VLOOKUP to combine multiple columns and use these as the
lookup criteria.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you a couple of methods  to you use VLOOKUP to use multiple columns as
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the criteria and fetch the corresponding value.
in 2022

This Article Covers: 

1. VLOOKUP Multiple Columns in Google Sheets (Using Helper Column)

2. VLOOKUP Multiple Columns Using Array Formula

VLOOKUP Multiple Columns in Google Sheets

(Using Helper Column) How to Sync Outlook Calendar with
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Suppose you have the dataset as shown below and you want to fetch the value for a name (say Winthrop
Pletts) from column C.

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The problem here is that we have the rst and last names in separate columns.

The trick to making it work is to alter the lookup array (the range) in such a way that multiple columns are
combined to give you that one column that has the combined lookup value.

So we would create a helper column that would have the combined names, and then we can use this helper
column to search and look for the lookup value

The following steps explain how to create a helper column and run a VLOOKUP on the new data.

1. Insert a new column to the left of the column you’re looking to return. In the example, we’re creating a
new column to the left of “Mailing List Subscriber” since that’s the value we want to return. The
example shows right-clicking on column C and choosing “Insert 1 left.”

2. Give the new column an appropriate header if applicable (in the example we’re naming it “Full Name”).
Then enter the formula “=({ rst cell}&” “&{second cell})” in the topmost cell of the helper column. The
example uses the formula =(A2&” “&B2).

3. Apply the formula to the rest of the column. You can do this by selecting the cell with the formula and
dragging the bottom right square icon to the bottom of the range.

4. Select the cell you want to use to perform the VLOOKUP, then enter the formula
“=vlookup({Combined Search Criteria},{Data Range},{Index},false)” in the cell. In the example case,
we’re checking to see if “Britta Dowey” is subscribed. We’re selecting the range C2:D16, and setting
the index to “2” to return the correct value.

5. Now the cell will return the search criteria. In the example, we used the formula =vlookup(“Britta
Dowey”,C2:D16,2,false) . Britta Dowey is not a subscriber, so it returns the value “False.”

Remember, VLOOKUP can only look to the right, so you’ll need to create the helper column to the left of the
column value you want to return.

VLOOKUP Multiple Columns Using Array Formula

Using the ARRAYFORMULA function with VLOOKUP is a helpful way to create a new data set with the
search key as a single column and show the related VLOOKUP return values.

This method is helpful when you need to return multiple values when running a multiple value search query.

The example data for this method uses a smaller list of customers but has an added column for email list
subscription status.

It also features “Full Name,” “Mailing List Subscriber,” and “Email List Subscriber” columns we’ll be using for
the VLOOKUP.

1. Create the array of combined columns for the search key using the “=ArrayFormula({static start
cell}&” “&{static end cell})” formula. In our example, we’ll be using: =ArrayFormula($A$2:$A$6&”
“&$B$2:$B$6). Enter this formula in the topmost cell under the new combined column (B9 in the
example).

2. Create your VLOOKUP formula.

The search key should be the rst cell in the new combined column with a static column setting.
The example uses “$B9.”
The range should be a combination of the ArrayFormula data separated by a comma that ends
with static values for the rest of the comparison data. In the example, we’re returning values in
columns C and D so this comes to {$A$2:$A$6&” “&$B$2:$B$6,$C$2:$D$6}.
Set the index for the return column number. In the example, we’re returning the third column
value so it is “3.”
Leave the “is_sorted” value as “false.”
All together, our example formula is: =vlookup($B9,{$A$2:$A$6&”
“&$B$2:$B$6,$C$2:$D$6},3,false)
3. Wrap your VLOOKUP formula in ARRAYFORMULA like =ArrayFormula({your vlookup formula}). The
example uses the formula: =ArrayFormula(vlookup($B9,{$A$2:$A$6&”
“&$B$2:$B$6,$C$2:$D$6},3,false))
4. Insert the formula into the topmost, leftmost return cell. This will return the rst result.

5. Drag the bottom right corner square icon across the entire return range to populate the rest of the
spreadsheet.

Note: If you’re seeing reference errors, make sure the ARRAYFORMULA is correctly wrapping the
VLOOKUP.

The methods detailed in this tutorial demonstrate how you can work around VLOOKUP limitations in
Google Sheets. With a little effort and spreadsheet modi cation, you can run VLOOKUP multiple columns.

In this tutorial, we have only shown you examples where we had to combine two columns, but you can also
use the same method to Vlookup more than two columns as well.

I hope you found this tutorial useful!

Other Google Sheets tutorials you may like:

How to VLOOKUP from Another Sheet in Google Sheets

How to Compare Two Columns in Google Sheets
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How to Group Columns in Google Sheets

Sumit
Spreadsheet Expert at Productivity Spot | Website | + posts

Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel Expert.

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