Lookup entire column

In Excel, we are able to lookup an entire column with the INDEX and MATCH functions.  The INDEX function returns a value as specified from within a range, while the MATCH function returns the position of a value in a range. This step by step tutorial will assist all levels of Excel users in looking up an entire column using INDEX and MATCH functions.  

Figure 1. Final result: Lookup entire column

Final formula: =SUM(INDEX(C3:E7,0,MATCH(H2,C2:E2,0)))

Syntax of the INDEX function

=INDEX(array, row_num, column_num)

The parameters are:

• array – a range of cells where we want to retrieve some data
• row_num – the row in the array from which we want to retrieve data
• column_num – the column in the array from which we want to retrieve data

Syntax of the MATCH function

=MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type])

The parameters are:

• lookup_value – a value which we want to find in the lookup_array
• lookup_array – the range of cells containing the value we want to match
• [match_type] – optional; the type of match; if omitted, the default value is 1; We use 0 to find an exact match

Setting up Our Data

Below table shows the sales of five products in the months of October (column C), November (column D) and December (column E).  

Figure 2. Sample data to lookup entire column

In cell H2, we specify the column whose values we want to lookup.  In cell H4, we want to determine the total sales for the month of October in order to show that we have retrieved all values in the entire column.   

Lookup an Entire Column

We want to determine the total sales for the month of October.   

Figure 3. Entering the formula to lookup entire column

To lookup entire column, we follow these steps:  

Step 1.  Select cell H3.

Step 2.  Enter the formula: =SUM(INDEX(C3:E7,0,MATCH(H2,C2:E2,0)))

Step 3.  Press ENTER

• The array is the range C3:E7, which contains the data for Sales.
• We set the row number to zero “0” in order to lookup the entire column.    
• The column number is determined by the MATCH function “MATCH(H2,C2:E2,0)”; October is in the first column of the lookup_array C2:E2 so column_num is 1.
• The final result in cell H3 is $ 3,000, which is the total sales for the month of October.  

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