Skip to main content

Explore the new, free version of Kutools for Outlook today!

 

How to apply negative vlookup to return the value in left of the key field in Excel?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-08-20

Normally, the Vlookup function can help you to return the value in right columns. If your extracted data in left column, you may consider entering a negative column number within the formula: =Vlookup(F2,D2:D13,-3,0), but this will give an error result as following screenshot shown. How could you apply negative vlookup function to return a matching value in Excel?

a screenshot of the original data and the default returned result #VALUE!

Apply negative vlookup to return the value in left column with User Defined function

Apply negative vlookup to return the value in left column with User Defined function

The following User Defined Function can help you to apply the negative vlookup in Excel worksheet, please do as this:

1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module window.

VBA code: Apply negative vlookup to return the value in left column:

Function VLOOKUPNEG(lookup_value, table_array As Range, col_index_num As Integer, CloseMatch As Boolean)
Dim RowNr As Long
RowNr = Application.WorksheetFunction.Match(lookup_value, table_array.Resize(, 1), CloseMatch) 
VLOOKUPNEG = table_array(RowNr, 1).Offset(0, col_index_num)
End Function

3. Then save and close the code window, go back to the worksheet, and enter this formula: =VLOOKUPNEG(F2,D2:D13,-3,0) into a cell where you want to get the result, and then press Enter key, and the matched value in left column has been extracted successfully, see screenshot:

a screenshot of using the user-defined function to return the value in left column

Note: In the above formula, F2 is the cell contains the criteria you want to vlookup, D2:D13 is the column range where to search for, -3 is the column index number you want to return the matching value from.

Unlock Leftward Lookup in Excel with Kutools' Advanced VLOOKUP Feature

Struggle with traditional VLOOKUP limitations? Kutools for Excel introduces the 'VLOOKUP from Right to Left' feature, allowing you to easily look up and match data from right to left—without the usual restrictions.
Try it now and transform the way you work with data. Download Kutools for Excel to start your 30-day free trial and enhance your productivity today!
a screenshot of using Kutools for Excel to VLOOKUP values from right to left

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup  |   Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar   |  Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells   |  Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...

Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!