What's the difference between V and Hlookups

Dear Orla

Thank you for attending Excel 2007 Adv. course. I hope that you enjoyed the course and benefited from it.

I am hoping that you understand what V lookup is and why we need to use this function.

When choosing between Vlookup and Hlookup the most important factor to take into consideration is the layout of your table.

If the data is vertically arranged i.e. the Headings are Columns then you have to use the VLookup
Example below:

Name DOB Dept. Date of Hire
Joe Smith 12/09/76 Admin 21/03/98

If the data is horizontally arranged i.e. Headings are as rows then you have to use the HLookup

Example below:

Name: Joe Smith
DOB 12/09/76
Dept. Admin
Date of Hire: 21/03/98

The syntax of the VLookup is:
Lookup_Value
Table_array
Col_index_num
Range_Lookup
Please press the reply button if you need further explanation of the above mentioned sections of the Vlookup.

Instead of Col_index_num in VLookup you have to use Row_index_num in HLookup.
I hope this has answered your query.

If this has answered your query then I would request you to please mark the question as resolved!! If not and you have a specific question related to this then please post it as a new question and we should be able to provide you the solution for it!!

Rajeev Rawat


MOS Master Instructor 2000 and 2003
MCAS Master Instructor 2007