How to average multiple vlookup findings in Excel?

When you need to find and average several values associated with the same lookup item, using a direct formula is one of the fastest and most flexible ways. The AVERAGEIF or an array formula handles this easily without creating extra columns.

Enter the following formula in a blank cell (for example, F2):

=AVERAGEIF(A1:A24,E2,C1:C24)

Press the Enter key after typing the formula. This immediately gives you the average of all values in column C where the corresponding value in column A matches your lookup value located in cell E2. See the illustration below:

Parameter explanation and tips:

• A1:A24: The range containing your lookup values.
• E2: The specific value you want to look up.
• C1:C24: The range from which you want to average the matching values.

Alternative approach (for users comfortable with array formulas):

Enter the following formula in a blank cell and use Ctrl + Shift + Enter to confirm:

=AVERAGE(IF(A1:A24=E2,C1:C24))

Array formulas process each comparison individually, which is helpful in versions of Excel that do not support dynamic arrays. Carefully ensure the ranges are exactly the same size to avoid errors.

Practical scenarios and notes:
- Best for datasets that are not filtered and have straightforward lookup needs.
- If either range includes empty cells, those are ignored in the average calculation.
- In dynamic tables or when adding data, consider using table references for more robust formulas.
- Watch out for accidental mismatches of cell ranges, which are a common source of incorrect averages or errors.

If you often need to summarize and aggregate data based on duplicates, Kutools for Excel provides a practical solution through its Advanced Combine Rows utility. This tool can quickly combine or calculate values such as the average, sum, or count for matching records in one step, making it highly suitable for larger datasets or regular reports.

1. Highlight the range of your data table, including both the lookup column and the values to average. Then go to Kutools > Content > Advanced Combine Rows. See the screenshot:

2. In the dialog box that appears:

• Select the column with your lookup values and click Primary Key.
• Choose the column with your target values, then click Calculate > Average.
• Set combination or calculation rules for other columns as needed—such as combining text with commas or applying sum, max, or min.

3. Click Ok to apply the settings.

The rows with duplicate lookup values are now merged, and the values in the designated column are automatically averaged for every unique lookup value. This is particularly helpful for preparing summary reports or condensing data.

Practical tip: Using Advanced Combine Rows minimizes manual calculation and potential for mistake. The tool is best for users who regularly process data with recurring lookup values and want actionable summaries quickly. Always double-check that the correct columns are assigned before combining, especially if data structure changes.

Demo: average multiple vlookup findings with Kutools for Excel

Pivot Tables offer a dynamic and visual approach to summarizing and analyzing data. Using a Pivot Table, you can automatically group entries by their lookup value and display the average of a target column for each group, providing an interactive summary that updates as your data changes.

Most effective scenarios: This approach is well suited when you need an overall summary for all lookup values at once, rather than focusing on a single lookup value. Pivot Tables are also excellent for quick data exploration, report generation, and when you wish to present your results in a sortable, expandable format.

Instructions:

• Select your entire dataset, including headers.
• Go to Insert > PivotTable > From Table or Range. Choose to place the Pivot Table on a new worksheet or an existing one as needed.
• In the PivotTable Fields panel, drag the column containing your lookup values into the Rows area.
• Drag the column you want to average into the Values area. Click the value field, select Value Field Settings, then set the calculation type to Average.

This results in a summary table listing each unique lookup value with its average calculated for the associated data. You can easily change grouping, filter, or drill down to details as needed.

Pros: No formulas required, supports dynamic updates, suitable for reporting and data exploration.

Cons: Extra steps needed to refresh after data changes, less suitable for extracting a single value directly into other formulas, and initial setup requires basic familiarity with PivotTables.

Troubleshooting tips: If values appear as counts or sums instead of averages, check the field calculation setting. For best results, ensure columns have appropriate headings and clarify any duplicated column names before creating the Pivot Table.

For advanced users and those managing data that updates regularly, using a VBA macro allows for automation of the averaging process across all entries matching a lookup value. This method loops through your data to find every match and computes the average, making it suitable for large datasets or when you need a repeatable workflow.

Applicable scenarios and notes: VBA is ideal when you frequently need to perform the average calculation, want to automate reports, or require a flexible approach that can be tailored to unusual data layouts. VBA macros work best when you are comfortable enabling macros in your workbook and require custom outputs.

1. Go to the Developer tab, choose Visual Basic or press Alt + F11 keys to open the VBA editor, then click Insert > Module. Copy and paste the code below into the new module:

Sub AverageVlookupMatches()
    Dim lookupCol As Range
    Dim avgCol As Range
    Dim lookupValue As Variant
    Dim total As Double
    Dim count As Long
    Dim i As Long
    
    On Error Resume Next
    xTitleId = "KutoolsforExcel"
    
    Set lookupCol = Application.InputBox("Select the lookup column", xTitleId, Selection.Address, Type:=8)
    Set avgCol = Application.InputBox("Select the column to average", xTitleId, , Type:=8)
    lookupValue = Application.InputBox("Enter lookup value", xTitleId, , Type:=2)
    
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    total = 0
    count = 0
    
    For i = 1 To lookupCol.Rows.Count
        If lookupCol.Cells(i, 1).Value = lookupValue Then
            If IsNumeric(avgCol.Cells(i, 1).Value) Then
                total = total + avgCol.Cells(i, 1).Value
                count = count + 1
            End If
        End If
    Next i
    
    If count > 0 Then
        MsgBox "Average of all matches: " & total / count, vbInformation, "Result"
    Else
        MsgBox "No matches found.", vbExclamation, "Result"
    End If
    
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

2. After pasting the code, close the VBA editor. To run the macro, return to Excel, press the F5 key, or click Run. When prompted, select the lookup column, the value column to be averaged, and enter the lookup value. The macro will display the calculated average in a message box.

Practical tips and precautions: Make sure your lookup and value columns have the same number of rows, and there are no blank rows within the selected areas. Entries with non-numeric values in the target column will be ignored. For best automation, adjust named ranges or macro logic as necessary to your worksheet layout.

Troubleshooting: If you encounter "No matches found," check for leading/trailing spaces or data type inconsistencies in your lookup column. Ensure macros are enabled for execution.

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