HLOOKUP function in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This table shows products in the first row, their prices in the second row, and stock quantities in the third row.

Cell	Value
A1	Product
B1	Pen
C1	Pencil
D1	Eraser
E1	Marker
A2	Price
B2	1.5
C2	0.5
D2	0.75
E2	2
A3	Stock
B3	100
C3	200
D3	150
E3	80

Formula Trace

=HLOOKUP("Pencil", A1:E3, 2, FALSE)

Step 1: HLOOKUP("Pencil", A1:E3, 2, FALSE)

Step 2: Search row 1: ["Product", "Pen", "Pencil", "Eraser", "Marker"]

Step 3: Return value from row 2, column 3 (C2)

Cell Reference Map

    A       B       C       D       E
1 |Product | Pen   | Pencil| Eraser| Marker|
2 | Price  | 1.5   | 0.5   | 0.75  | 2.0   |
3 | Stock  | 100   | 200   | 150   | 80    |

Formula looks in row 1 (A1:E1) to find "Pencil" and returns value from row 2 in same column (C2).

The formula searches the first row (A1:E1) for "Pencil" and then returns the value from the second row in the same column.

Result

    A       B       C       D       E
1 |Product | Pen   | Pencil| Eraser| Marker|
2 | Price  | 1.5   | 0.5   | 0.75  | 2.0   |
3 | Stock  | 100   | 200   | 150   | 80    |

F1| 0.5  <- Result of =HLOOKUP("Pencil", A1:E3, 2, FALSE)

The formula returns 0.5, which is the price of "Pencil" found in the second row under the "Pencil" column.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the HLOOKUP formula search for in the first row?

A "Pencil"

B The price values

C The stock quantities

D "Price"

Key Result

HLOOKUP searches the first row of a range for a value and returns the value from a specified row in the same column.