XLOOKUP vs INDEX/MATCH in Google Sheets (2026)
February 6th, 2026
If you work in Google Sheets, you will eventually build a lookup. For years, the best-practice answer was INDEX/MATCH. Now we also have XLOOKUP. Both are excellent, but they shine in different situations. This guide shows when to prefer one over the other, with clear examples you can reuse.
Quick decision guide
Use XLOOKUP when:
- You want a single, readable formula.
- You need built-in error handling.
- You want to look left or right without rearranging columns.
Use INDEX/MATCH when:
- You need complex matching logic across multiple criteria.
- You want more control over row and column intersections.
- You are building patterns that combine MATCH outputs for multiple ranges.
The XLOOKUP pattern
Here is the most common XLOOKUP pattern:
=XLOOKUP(A2, $E$2:$E$200, $F$2:$F$200, "Not found")
A2is the lookup value.$E$2:$E$200is the search column.$F$2:$F$200is the return column.- The last argument is the fallback if nothing matches.
XLOOKUP is one of the easiest formulas to scan and maintain. When you need to hand a sheet to someone else, this matters.
The INDEX/MATCH pattern
INDEX/MATCH has two parts: MATCH finds a position, then INDEX returns the value at that position.
=INDEX($F$2:$F$200, MATCH(A2, $E$2:$E$200, 0))
This is still a great pattern. It is flexible and fast, and it works everywhere. The 0 means exact match.
Multiple criteria lookups
When you need multiple criteria, INDEX/MATCH is usually cleaner. Build the match position using boolean logic:
=INDEX($H$2:$H$200, MATCH(1, ($E$2:$E$200=A2) * ($F$2:$F$200=B2), 0))
This returns the value in column H where both conditions match. You can also build a helper column for readability.
Left and right lookups
Both XLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH can look left and right. The old VLOOKUP limitation no longer matters. With XLOOKUP, simply set the return range to whatever column you need.
Performance notes
Both are fast for typical Sheets ranges. If performance matters (tens of thousands of rows), keep your lookup range as tight as possible and avoid full-column references.
Recommendation
If you are teaching a team, start with XLOOKUP. It reads like plain English. Use INDEX/MATCH for advanced or multi-criteria lookups. In practice, most sheets can standardize on XLOOKUP and keep INDEX/MATCH in your toolkit for the edge cases.