Why you need this
Searches for a value in a range and returns its relative position. Usually used inside INDEX.
One-Click Copy
=MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type])
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Quick context
- • Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.
- • Use when you need consistent, auditable results.
- • Copy the snippet above and adjust only the ranges.
When to use
Learn how to use the Excel MATCH Formula.
Disclaimer: While we strive for accuracy, these formulas are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Please verify all results before use.
Common Mistakes
- ✕ Forgetting match_type argument. The default is 1 (Less than), which requires sorted data. For 99% of use cases, you want 0 (Exact Match).
Best Practices
- ✓ Always use 0 for exact match. Unless you are specifically doing range bucketing (like tax brackets), explicitly set the last argument to 0.
Scalability Warning
Using 'Approximation Match' (default) is a common source of bugs.
See data Alternatives