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Lookup & Reference2026-06-131 related article

CHOOSE Function in Excel

Return one value from a list by position number.

Syntax

CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], ...)

Arguments

index_num

Required

The position number of the value Excel should return from the list.

value1

Required

The first value Excel can choose from.

value2

Optional

Additional values Excel can choose from when index_num points later in the list.

What it returns

Returns the value from the list that matches the position number you specify.

What CHOOSE does

CHOOSE returns one item from a list based on a numeric position. It is useful when you need a compact mapping formula or when you want to rearrange inputs before passing them into another function.

Practical examples

Return a label from a short list

=CHOOSE(A2,"Low","Medium","High")

If A2 contains 2, Excel returns Medium.

Reorder arrays for a lookup pattern

=MATCH("Red",CHOOSE({1,2},B2:B10,A2:A10),0)

CHOOSE can help build temporary array structures when you need a more flexible lookup setup.

Common mistakes and notes

index_num must point to a real position

If the index points past the values you supplied, Excel returns an error instead of a fallback result.

CHOOSE is best for short lists

When the mapping grows large, a lookup table with XLOOKUP or INDEX plus MATCH is usually easier to maintain.

Position numbers start at 1

The first supplied value is position 1. There is no zero position.

Related functions

Related articles

Deep dives, troubleshooting guides, and practical examples that use CHOOSE.

Official documentation