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How to lookup first non-zero value and return corresponding column header in Excel?

Supposing, you have a range of data, now, you want to return the column header in that row where the first non-zero value occurs as following screenshot shown, this article, I will introduce a useful formula for you to deal with this task in Excel.

doc lookup first non zero 1

Lookup the first non-zero value and return corresponding column header with formula

arrow blue right bubble Lookup the first non-zero value and return corresponding column header with formula

To return the column header of the first non-zero value in a row, the following formula may help you, please do as this:

Enter this formula: =INDEX($B$1:$I$1,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(B2:I2<>0,),0)) into a blank cell where you want to locate the result, K2, for example, and then drag the fill handle down to the cells that you want to apply this formula, and all the corresponding column headers of the first non-zero value are returned as following screenshot shown:

doc lookup first non zero 2

Note: In the above formula, B1:I1 is the column headers which you want to return, B2:I2 is the row data that you want to lookup the first non-zero value.

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Comments (15)
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Grobarka
Grobarka
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Hello, my problem is: a have value 1,2,3,4,...50 that are the number of month. How to denormalize month into real datum. Thank you in advance a lot!!!
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Allison
Allison
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Does anyone know what you would do if your cell that contains a zero has a formula in it? When I use this formula, I end up with whatever the first column header is regardless of whether it is zero or not.
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Matheus
Matheus
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E como faço pra procurar o primeiro valor diferente de zero da esquerda pra direita?
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skyyang
skyyang     Matheus
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Hello, Matheus
If you want to return the first non-zero value from a row, please apply the below formula:
=INDEX(B2:F2,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(B2:F2<>0,),0))
Please have a try, hope it can help you!
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Ali
Ali
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What if you needed the last non-zero value in an array?

P.S. This was really helpful, thank you so much!
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skyyang
skyyang     Ali
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Hello, Ali,
To get the column header based on the last non-zero value, please apply the below formula, see screenshot:
=INDEX($B$1:$H$1,MAX((COLUMN(B2:H2)-MIN(COLUMN(B2:H2))+1)*(B2:H2<>0)))
Please remember to press Ctrl+Shift+Enter key together.
https://www.extendoffice.com/images/stories/comments/comment-skyyang/doc-last-non-zero.png
Please try, hope it can help you!
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WNHC
WNHC     skyyang
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The formula is super helpful and helped me sorted out the situation! Thanks!!! Is there any chance you may please help to also explain how it works?
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Robert
Robert
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How do you look up for the second,third and fourth non-zero value?
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skyyang
skyyang     Robert
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Hello, Robert,
To lookup the second, third or fourth non-zero values and return their columns, please apply the below formula: (After pasting the formula, please press Ctr + Shift + Enter keys together.)
=INDEX($B$1:$I$1,SMALL(IF(B2:I2<>0, COLUMN(B2:I2)-COLUMN(A2)),2))


Note: To extract the third or fourth result, you just need to change the number 2 to 3,4 as you need.

Please have a try, hope it can help you!
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PRIYA
PRIYA
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CAN U EXPLIAN HOW THIS FORMULA WORKS
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MandyZhou
MandyZhou     PRIYA
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Hello Priya,I am glad to help. I will separate the formula = INDEX($B$1:$I$1,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(B2:I2<>0,),0)) into 3 parts, and explain the formula to you step by step.
First, let us see the inner-most formula =INDEX(B2:I2<>0,). This formula returns an array of TRUE and FALSE whether the values of range B2:I2 are equal to 0. Please see the screenshot 1, formula =INDEX(B2:I2<>0,) returns {FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,TRUE,TRUE}.
Second, =MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(B2:I2<>0,),0) =MATCH(TRUE, {FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,TRUE,TRUE}, 0). It returns the position of the first value "TRUE", while 0 in the formula means an exact match. We can see that the first value "TRUE" occurs at the 5th position of the array. Then the second formula returns 5. See the screenshot 2.
Finally,  =INDEX(B1:I1,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(B2:I2<>0,),0))=INDEX(B1:I1,5). It returns the 5th value of the array B1:I1. We can see in the screenshot that the value is "May". So the final formula returns "May". 
PS: To drag the fill handle down the formula to get the rest of the results, we must make the range B1:I1 absolute. So we add $ to range B1:I1 to keep it absolute. 
Hope my explanation can solve your puzzle. Have a nice day.
Sincerely,Mandy
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Tahir Nazir
Tahir Nazir     MandyZhou
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Thank you Mandy for illustrating it in detail.
Kindly guide how to get the last non zero value from same formula instead of first non zero value.
Will Match work for that or not?
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Jason
Jason     MandyZhou
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Hi MandyZhou,

Thank you for the explanation!
I have a follow-up question.
How would the formula change if you had to look up the year too?
So in the above example, let's assume that column J is 'Year' and that in cell J2 is written '2015'.
And in cell K2 I would need the column header for the first non-zero value of the year in L2 (year 2015, so I would need to find 'Jun' in cell K2).

Thanks in advance for your help!
Jason
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tancredi
tancredi
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How can I return the second and third, etc non zero value? Your formula is amazing but I am trying to search more keywords from a text so sometimes they are 2 or 3 in the same sentence
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gio.gandini@libero.i
gio.gandini@libero.i
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se volessi "l'ultimo" Valore Diverso Da Zero E Restituire L'intestazione Della Colonna Corrispondente Con La Formula?
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