How is DGET different from VLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP looks up a value in the first column of a range and returns from a specified column to the right. DGET searches any column for matching criteria and returns a different column. DGET also has built-in error handling for multiple matches (#NUM!), while VLOOKUP returns the first match silently.

Can I use DGET with multiple criteria?

Yes. Include multiple columns in the criteria range (with headers), and DGET will match rows where ALL criteria columns match. For example, criteria columns 'Department' and 'Status' would filter for rows matching both conditions.

What happens if my criteria has spaces or is case-sensitive?

DGET criteria matching is typically not case-sensitive. Spaces in criteria values must match exactly—if the database has 'Alice' but your criteria is 'Alice ' (with a trailing space), no match occurs. Use TRIM if criteria values may have extra spaces.

Why do I need to use absolute references ($) in DGET formulas?

Absolute references ($A$1:$F$6) prevent the database and criteria ranges from shifting if you copy the formula to other cells. Without them, the ranges adjust relative to the new position, breaking your formula.

DGET function

DGET returns a single value from a database/table row matching specified criteria, or an error if multiple rows or no rows match.

=DGET(database, field, criteria)

Generate a DGET formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for DGET where DGET is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

Arguments

How DGET reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
database	Required	The table range including headers (first row). All criteria columns and the field column must exist within this range.
field	Required	The column to retrieve from, specified as column number (1 = first column) or column header name as text. Must exist in the database.
criteria	Required	A range with headers (first row) and values to match. Multiple columns in criteria perform AND logic; only rows matching all criteria columns return results.

Returns

A scalar value (text, number, or date) from the matching database row.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Get salary for a specific employee by name

Employee ID	Name	Department	Hire Date	Salary	Status
1001	Alice Chen	Engineering	2020-01-15	95000	Active
1002	Bob Martinez	Sales	2019-03-22	75000	Active
1003	Carol Johnson	Finance	2021-06-10	85000	Active
1004	David Lee	Engineering	2022-02-01	78000	Active
1005	Emma Wilson	HR	2018-11-05	72000	Inactive
Name
Carol Johnson

=DGET($A$1:$F$6, "Salary", $A$8:$B$9)

Result: 85000

The criteria range specifies Name = 'Carol Johnson'. DGET finds exactly one matching row (Carol's record) and returns the value from the Salary column: 85000.

2. Get hire date for an employee by ID

Employee ID	Name	Department	Hire Date	Salary	Status
1001	Alice Chen	Engineering	2020-01-15	95000	Active
1002	Bob Martinez	Sales	2019-03-22	75000	Active
1003	Carol Johnson	Finance	2021-06-10	85000	Active
1004	David Lee	Engineering	2022-02-01	78000	Active
1005	Emma Wilson	HR	2018-11-05	72000	Inactive
Employee ID
1005

=DGET($A$1:$F$6, "Hire Date", $A$11:$B$12)

Result: 2018-11-05

The criteria (Employee ID = 1005) uniquely identifies Emma Wilson's row. DGET retrieves the Hire Date from that row, returning 2018-11-05.

3. Get department for an employee using column number

Employee ID	Name	Department	Hire Date	Salary	Status
1001	Alice Chen	Engineering	2020-01-15	95000	Active
1002	Bob Martinez	Sales	2019-03-22	75000	Active
1003	Carol Johnson	Finance	2021-06-10	85000	Active
1004	David Lee	Engineering	2022-02-01	78000	Active
1005	Emma Wilson	HR	2018-11-05	72000	Inactive
Employee ID
1001

=DGET($A$1:$F$6, 3, $A$14:$B$15)

Result: Engineering

This formula uses field number 3 (the Department column) instead of naming it. The criteria (Employee ID = 1001) matches Alice Chen, and DGET returns the Department value: Engineering.

Common errors

Which DGET error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#NUM!	The criteria matches more than one row in the database. DGET can return only a single value, so multiple matches cause this error.	Add additional criteria columns to narrow the results to a single row, or ensure your criteria are specific enough to match exactly one employee.
#VALUE!	The criteria matches no rows in the database, or the field name/number does not exist in the database columns.	Verify the criteria values exist in the database. If using a field name, ensure it exactly matches a column header.
#REF!	The database or criteria range reference is invalid, such as when columns or rows are deleted or the range is corrupted.	Verify both range arguments (database and criteria) point to valid, existing cell ranges. Update references if the underlying data has been reorganized.

Tips and when to use something else

DGET requires exactly one match; if you expect multiple results, use FILTER, VLOOKUP with multiple criteria, or INDEX/MATCH instead.
Combine multiple criteria columns in the criteria range to narrow results—each column adds AND logic to filter more specifically.
Field can be a column number (1, 2, 3...) or the exact header text; using header text is more readable and resilient to column reordering.
DGET supports wildcards in criteria (? for single character, * for multiple), enabling partial text matching on the criteria column.

Related functions

VLOOKUPVLOOKUP searches the first column of a table and returns a value from a specified column in the same row, optionally using exact or approximate matching.INDEXINDEX returns the value or array of values from a specified position within a given range, based on row and optional column numbers.MATCHMATCH returns the relative position of a lookup value within a one-dimensional range, optionally using exact, less-than, or greater-than matching.DSUMDSUM sums values in a database column that meet specified criteria—use it to total filtered column values from a data table.FILTERReturns filtered rows from an array based on a boolean criteria array, retaining the original order and all columns.

Frequently asked questions

How is DGET different from VLOOKUP?: VLOOKUP looks up a value in the first column of a range and returns from a specified column to the right. DGET searches any column for matching criteria and returns a different column. DGET also has built-in error handling for multiple matches (#NUM!), while VLOOKUP returns the first match silently.
Can I use DGET with multiple criteria?: Yes. Include multiple columns in the criteria range (with headers), and DGET will match rows where ALL criteria columns match. For example, criteria columns 'Department' and 'Status' would filter for rows matching both conditions.
What happens if my criteria has spaces or is case-sensitive?: DGET criteria matching is typically not case-sensitive. Spaces in criteria values must match exactly—if the database has 'Alice' but your criteria is 'Alice ' (with a trailing space), no match occurs. Use TRIM if criteria values may have extra spaces.
Why do I need to use absolute references ($) in DGET formulas?: Absolute references ($A$1:$F$6) prevent the database and criteria ranges from shifting if you copy the formula to other cells. Without them, the ranges adjust relative to the new position, breaking your formula.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17