Using VLOOKUP Across Multiple Columns in Excel

🔧 Objective:

Use VLOOKUP to return multiple columns of data (e.g., 30 columns) in Excel — efficiently and dynamically.

Formula Syntax: =VLOOKUP(B3, 'Data sheet'!B:AE, {2,3,4,5,6,...,31}, 0)

Steps:

1. Select the cell where the first result should appear (e.g., D3).

2. Enter the formula above.

3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter (only in legacy Excel) to make it an array formula.

4. Drag across 30 columns to populate values.

Notes:

- This is static — you must type all column numbers manually.

- Not ideal for frequent changes.

🔁 VLOOKUP Method 2: Using `COLUMNS()` for Dynamic Return Index

Formula Syntax: =VLOOKUP($B3, 'Data sheet'!$B:AE, COLUMNS($B2:D2), 0)

Steps:

1. Go to cell D3 (first return column).

2. Type the formula above.

3. Press Enter (no array entry needed).

4. Drag across to 30 columns (e.g., to AG3).

5. Drag the entire row downward to apply for other rows.

Explanation:

- COLUMNS($B2:D2) dynamically calculates the column index (2, 3, 4...) based on how far you're dragging.

- Works great for large ranges.

Feature	`{}` Array Method	`COLUMNS()` Method
Setup	Manual (fixed columns)	Dynamic (auto-increments)
Ease of Use	Medium	Easy
Best For	Small ranges or legacy tasks	Large, dynamic tables
Drag Support	Across columns after setup	Fully supported
Version Compatibility	Older Excel needs Ctrl+Shift+Enter	Works with all modern versions

If you're using Excel 365 or 2019+, this is even cleaner:

=VLOOKUP(B3, 'Data sheet'!B:AE, SEQUENCE(1,30,2,1), FALSE)

Returns 30 columns starting from column index 2 and auto-fills horizontally.