Microsoft Excel's XLOOKUP is a powerful function that allows users to search for values efficiently. Unlike VLOOKUP or INDEX & MATCH, XLOOKUP provides more flexibility, including handling multiple criteria without requiring a helper column. This guide will explain how to use XLOOKUP with multiple criteria to improve data retrieval accuracy.

Chat with live technician- Click Here

Understanding XLOOKUP

XLOOKUP is a modern alternative to VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, offering:
✔ Searching both vertically and horizontally
✔ Eliminating the need for sorted data
✔ Handling exact and approximate matches

The basic syntax of XLOOKUP is:

Where:

• lookup_value – The value to search for
• lookup_array – The range where the value is searched
• return_array – The range from which to return results
• if_not_found – Optional: A value if no match is found
• match_mode – Optional: Defines exact or approximate matching
• search_mode – Optional: Controls search direction

Using XLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria

Since XLOOKUP works with a single lookup value, you need a workaround to handle multiple criteria. Here are two methods to achieve this:

Method 1: Using Concatenation to Merge Criteria

By combining multiple criteria into one, XLOOKUP can search for an exact match.

Example: Searching for a product based on category and name

Dataset:

Formula:

🔹 A2:A4 & B2:B4 merges category and product name.
🔹 C2:C4 returns the corresponding price.
🔹 If no match is found, "Not Found" is displayed.

Method 2: Using XLOOKUP with Boolean Logic

This method applies logical conditions within an XLOOKUP function.

Example: Searching for a price based on multiple conditions

🔹 (A2:A4="Electronics") * (B2:B4="Phone") creates a Boolean array (1s and 0s).
🔹 XLOOKUP(1, …) finds the first instance where both conditions are met.
🔹 The formula returns $700, the price of an Electronics Phone.

Advantages of XLOOKUP for Multiple Criteria

✔ No need for helper columns
✔ More readable than INDEX & MATCH
✔ Handles both vertical and horizontal lookups

Best Practices for Using XLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria

✅ Use concatenation when matching exact text values.
✅ Apply Boolean logic for multiple numeric or text conditions.
✅ Ensure lookup and return arrays have the same size to avoid errors.
✅ Use structured references in Excel Tables for dynamic range updates.

Conclusion

XLOOKUP is a game-changer in Excel, offering flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency. By combining multiple criteria with concatenation or Boolean logic, you can perform advanced lookups with ease. Mastering these techniques will help you retrieve data more effectively, saving time and effort in Excel spreadsheets.