Google Sheets functions / Lookup & Reference
Lookup & Reference function · Google Sheets
INDEX function
INDEX returns the value at a given position in a range. Paired with MATCH, it forms a flexible lookup that works in every version of Excel and in Google Sheets.
Arguments
| Argument | Required | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| array | Yes | The range to read from. |
| row_num | Yes | The row position inside the range. Optional in Sheets. |
| column_num | No | The column position inside the range. |
Worked example
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SKU | Product | Price |
| 2 | A-101 | Keyboard | 45 |
| 3 | A-102 | Mouse | 22 |
| 4 | A-103 | Monitor | 180 |
| 5 | A-104 | Dock | 95 |
=INDEX(C2:C5,MATCH("A-104",A2:A5,0))Result: 95
MATCH finds A-104 in position 4 of the SKU column. INDEX returns position 4 of the price column.
Try it
Edit the formula and run it against the table above. Results come from a browser spreadsheet engine.
Availability
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Excel | All current desktop versions, Microsoft 365, Excel for the web. |
| Google Sheets | Available. |
Common mistakes
- Leaving MATCH without the final 0 requests an approximate match.
- The row number counts from the top of the range, not from row 1 of the sheet.
Do it with AI
Paste this prompt into Copilot, Gemini or another assistant. Check the result on a small sample first.
Write an INDEX and MATCH formula that returns the price in column C for the SKU in F2, with an exact match.