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In this article
INDEX returns the value at a given row (and optional column) of a range. Combined with MATCH it is the most flexible lookup in every Excel version.
Syntax
=INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num])| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
array |
The range to pick from. |
row_num |
Row position inside the range. |
column_num |
Column position (for 2-D ranges). |
Examples
Example 1
=INDEX(B2:B100, 5)The 5th value in the list.
Example 2
=INDEX(C2:C500, MATCH(F2, A2:A500, 0))Classic INDEX/MATCH lookup.
Power combo
=INDEX(B2:M20, MATCH(P2, A2:A20, 0), MATCH(Q2, B1:M1, 0))Two-way lookup: row by region, column by month.
INDEX in practice
Where you will use it
- Pick a value by row and column number
- Two-way lookup with MATCH
- Return a whole row or column
Worked example
| Row | Col | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | =INDEX({"Pune",42;"Delhi",57},A2,B2) | 42 |
| 2 | 1 | =INDEX({"Pune",42;"Delhi",57},A3,B3) | Delhi |
| 2 | 2 | =INDEX({"Pune",42;"Delhi",57},A4,B4) | 57 |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Counting rows from the sheet top | Row numbers count from the start of the range |
| Hard-coded numbers | Use MATCH for row/column numbers |
Related functions
MATCH · XLOOKUP · VLOOKUP · OFFSET
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📎 Practice files for this article
⬇ Download all 2 files (ZIP · 39 KB)
- 📗Lookup scenarios workbookVLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and XLOOKUP side by side — vertical, horizontal, two-way — plus 6 real failure cases and their fixes, with PASS/FAIL checks.⬇ XLSX · 10 KB
- 📗Practice workbook: Lookup & reference17 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.⬇ XLSX · 35 KB
Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.
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