Goal Seek in Excel - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Goal Seek helps you find the input value needed to reach a specific result in a formula. It solves problems where you know the outcome you want but not the number to get there.

When you want to find the sales needed to reach a target profit.

When you need to calculate the loan payment amount to pay off a loan in a set time.

When you want to know what price to set to achieve a certain revenue.

When you want to find the number of units to produce to break even.

When you want to adjust a budget item to meet a total spending limit.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Data tab on the Ribbon

The Data tab options appear

Step 2: Click

- What-If Analysis button in the Forecast group

A menu with What-If Analysis options appears

Step 3: Select

- Goal Seek from the What-If Analysis menu

The Goal Seek dialog box opens

Step 4: Type

- Set cell box in the Goal Seek dialog

The cell with the formula you want to reach a goal is selected

💡 This cell must contain a formula

Step 5: Type

- To value box

The target result you want the formula to reach is entered

Step 6: Type

- By changing cell box

The cell you want Excel to change to reach the goal is selected

💡 This cell should be an input to the formula in the Set cell

Step 7: Click

- OK button in the Goal Seek dialog

Excel changes the input cell to find the value that makes the formula reach the target

Step 8: Click

- OK or Cancel in the Goal Seek Status dialog

If OK, the new value stays; if Cancel, the original value returns

Before vs After

Before

Cell B3 contains formula =B1*B2 with B1=10 and B2=5, result is 50

After

Using Goal Seek to set B3 to 100 by changing B1, B1 changes to 20 so B3 result is 100

Settings Reference

Set cell

📍 Goal Seek dialog box

The cell containing the formula whose result you want to set to a specific value

Default: Empty

To value

📍 Goal Seek dialog box

The target value you want the formula to reach

Default: Empty

By changing cell

📍 Goal Seek dialog box

The cell Excel will change to reach the target value

Default: Empty

Common Mistakes

Selecting a cell without a formula as the Set cell

Goal Seek needs a formula result to adjust inputs; without a formula, it cannot work

Always select a cell that contains a formula for the Set cell

Choosing a By changing cell that does not affect the formula

Changing a cell that does not impact the formula result will not reach the goal

Select an input cell that directly influences the formula in the Set cell

Expecting Goal Seek to find multiple solutions

Goal Seek finds only one solution and stops; it does not explore all possibilities

Use Goal Seek for simple one-variable problems and check results carefully

Summary

Goal Seek finds the input value needed to reach a specific formula result.

You must select a formula cell as the Set cell and an input cell to change.

Goal Seek works best for simple one-variable problems with clear goals.