MATCH function in Excel, usage and examples

In this article, we will learn the syntax, usage and illustrative examples to effectively apply the MATCH function in work.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING MATCH FUNCTION IN EXCEL

Syntax: MATCH(Lookup_value,Lookup_array,[Match_type])

In there:

- Lookup_value : The value to look up, which can be a number, text, logical value, or a cell reference to a number, text, or logical value, required
- Lookup_array : The array to look up, required
- Match_type : The type of search. Optional.

Getting familiar with how to number in Excel quickly is also necessary, helping you work with Excel quickly, giving more accurate results. You can refer to TipsMake's article to learn how to number easily.

There are 3 types of searches:

1:Less than (Smaller than search value)
0: Exact match (Exact search value)
-1:Greater than (Greater than search value)

When omitted, the MATCH function defaults to 1.

Example : Given a list of a group of students, find the class order of each student in the table below:

MATCH function in Excel, usage and examples Picture 1

The formula in cell E5 is : =MATCH(D5,$D$9:$D$11,0)

We have the result:

MATCH function in Excel, usage and examples Picture 2

With a fairly simple syntax and usage, the MATCH function in Excel helps you search for an item in a list and returns the relative position of that item. This function is especially useful when you need to determine the location of data in a table, supporting quick information lookup.

To improve the lookup efficiency, you can combine the MATCH function with the INDEX function, which helps to get data by row or column based on the found position. This is a popular way to create dynamic lookup formulas in Excel, helping you to handle data more accurately and flexibly.

Samuel Daniel

Update 20 February 2025