3 Excel Functions I Always Use

Microsoft Excel is one of those tools that you can use for years and still keep discovering new tricks. But no matter how many features I learn, there are a few functions I keep coming back to. They’re simple, powerful, and save me hours of frustration. If you spend any time in spreadsheets, these three are worth mastering.

1. VLOOKUP (or XLOOKUP if you’ve got it)

When I need to pull information from one table into another, this is my go-to. For example, if I’ve got a list of customer IDs in one sheet and their details in another, VLOOKUP makes it easy to match them up.

Why I use it: It saves me from copying and pasting data manually and keeps my information consistent across sheets.

Pro tip: If your version of Excel has XLOOKUP, use that instead. It’s more flexible and doesn’t have the same left-to-right limitation that VLOOKUP does.

2. IF

The IF function is one of the simplest, but it’s incredibly versatile. It lets you add logic into your spreadsheet: if this is true, do that, otherwise do something else.

Example:

=IF(A2>100, "Over Budget", "OK")

Why I use it: It helps me turn raw numbers into meaningful labels. Whether I’m flagging overdue invoices or marking students’ grades, IF keeps my data easy to interpret.

3. CONCAT (or TEXTJOIN for the win)

I often need to merge text from different cells, like combining first and last names or putting together a full address. CONCAT does the job perfectly.

Why I use it: It eliminates the need to manually type or copy pieces of information into one cell.

Pro tip: If you’ve got TEXTJOIN, use that instead—it lets you add separators (like commas or spaces) and skip blank cells automatically.

Final Thoughts

There are hundreds of functions in Excel, but these three—VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, IF, and CONCAT/TEXTJOIN—form the backbone of how I work with data every day. They’re easy to learn, practical, and once you start using them, you’ll wonder how you managed without them.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!