Lookup next largest match with INDEX and MATCH
To find the next largest match number, or we say the smallest value that is greater than or equal to the specific number in a range of numeric values in Excel, you can use an INDEX and MATCH formula with -1 as the match type.
How to find the next largest match number?
To get the next largest match of 68666 from the number range as shown above, an INDEX and MATCH formula with -1 as the match type will help you in this way: The match type -1 will force MATCH to find the smallest value that is greater than or equal to 68666. Note that the values in the number range must be placed in descending order. So, if the values in your range are placed in other orders, please sort them in the descending order according to the instructions here. Only in this case, the MATCH function will be able to locate the next largest match properly. And INDEX will then retrieve the value according to the position supplied by MATCH.
Generic syntax
=INDEX(return_range,MATCH(lookup_value,lookup_array,-1))
- return_range: The range where you want the combination formula to return the match value from.
- lookup_value: The value you specified to lookup its next largest match.
- lookup_array: The range of numeric values to retrieve the position of the next largest match from.
To get the next largest match of 68666, please copy or enter the formulas below in the cell E6, and press Enter to get the result:
=INDEX(B5:B14,MATCH(68666,B5:B14,-1))
Or, use a cell reference to make the formula dynamic:
=INDEX(B5:B14,MATCH(E5,B5:B14,-1))
Explanation of the formula
=INDEX(B5:B14,MATCH(E5,B5:B14,-1))
- MATCH(E5,B5:B14,-1): The match_type -1 asks the MATCH function to find the position of the smallest value that is greater than or equal to 68666, the value in the cell E5, in the range B5:B14. So, the MATCH will locate the number 75681 and returns 3 since the number is at the 3rd position of the range.
- INDEX(B5:B14,MATCH(E5,B5:B14,-1)) = INDEX(B5:B14,3): The INDEX function returns the 3rd value in the return range B5:B14, which is 75681.
Related functions
The Excel INDEX function returns the displayed value based on a given position from a range or an array.
The Excel MATCH function searches for a specific value in a range of cells, and returns the relative position of the value.
Related Formulas
Locate maximum value in a range
There are cases when you need to locate the position of the maximum value in a list, table or row in Excel. In this tutorial, we will discuss the approach to accomplish the task with the MAX and MATCH functions.
Get information corresponding to maximum value
There are cases when you need to locate the position of the maximum value in a list, table or row in Excel. In this tutorial, we will discuss the approach to accomplish the task with the MAX and MATCH functions.
Lookup closest match value with multiple criteria
In some cases, you may need to lookup the closest or approximate match value based on more than one criteria. With the combination of INDEX, MATCH and IF functions, you can quickly get it done in Excel.
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