INDEX MATCH Examples in Excel

What it does

INDEX MATCH combines MATCH to find a position and INDEX to return a value from that position.

=INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))

✅

Return the price for the product name in A2.

=INDEX(Products[Price], MATCH(A2, Products[Product], 0))

MATCH finds the row; INDEX returns the price.

Find a product name using a product code in a right-side column.

=INDEX(Products[Product], MATCH(D2, Products[Code], 0))

INDEX MATCH can return values from columns to the left.

Find the intersection of a product row and month column.

=INDEX(SalesData, MATCH(H2, Products, 0), MATCH(H3, Months, 0))

Useful for matrix-style reports.

Return a friendly message when the match is missing.

=IFERROR(INDEX(Prices, MATCH(A2, Products, 0)), "Not found")

This avoids showing #N/A in a report.

Use IDs to avoid duplicate-name problems.

=INDEX(Staff[Manager], MATCH(E2, Staff[Employee ID], 0))

Exact ID matching is more reliable than name matching.

Is INDEX MATCH better than VLOOKUP?

It is more flexible, especially for left lookups and dynamic table structures.

💡 Useful resources

Optional resources that may help if you are learning formulas, building reports, or working in spreadsheets often.

📘
Excel formula books
Practice formulas with structured examples you can keep beside your desk.
See ideas
⌨️
Excel shortcut guides
Build speed with keyboard shortcuts for selection, formatting and navigation.
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🔢
Numeric keypads
Helpful if you enter many numbers on a laptop or compact keyboard.
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🖥️
External monitors
Useful for viewing large worksheets, formulas and reference tables side by side.
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📒
Desk notebooks
Sketch formula logic, report ideas and table structures before building.
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💻
Laptop stands
Make long spreadsheet sessions more comfortable and ergonomic.
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