Top 20 Excel Formulas List (Must-Know for 2026)
Below is a practical Top 20 Excel formulas list combining classic functions and modern Excel 365 dynamic functions. These are widely recognized as essential because they help with calculations, lookups, automation, and data analysis.
Modern Excel skills combine traditional formulas like SUM and IF with newer dynamic array functions like FILTER, UNIQUE, and XLOOKUP.
Core Calculation Formulas
1. SUM – Adds numbers in a range
Example: =SUM(A1:A10)
Widely used for totals in finance, sales, and reports.
2. AVERAGE – Finds mean value
Example: =AVERAGE(A1:A10)
3. COUNT / COUNTA – Counts numeric / non-empty cells
Example: =COUNT(A1:A10)
4. MAX / MIN – Finds highest or lowest value
Example: =MAX(A1:A10)
Logical & Decision Formulas
5. IF – Performs logical test
Example: =IF(A1>50,"Pass","Fail")
Used for decision-making and automation.
6. IFS – Multiple condition checking
Example: =IFS(A1>90,"A",A1>75,"B")
7. IFERROR – Handles formula errors
Example: =IFERROR(A1/B1,"Error")
Lookup & Reference Formulas (Very Important)
8. VLOOKUP – Classic vertical lookup
Example: =VLOOKUP(A2,A1:C10,2,FALSE)
9. XLOOKUP – Modern replacement for VLOOKUP
More flexible and powerful.
10. INDEX – Returns value from table position
Example: =INDEX(A1:C10,2,3)
11. MATCH / XMATCH – Finds position of value
Used with INDEX for advanced lookup.
Conditional Calculation Formulas
12. SUMIF / SUMIFS – Sum with conditions
Example: =SUMIF(A:A,"East",B:B)
Widely used in reporting and dashboards.
13. COUNTIF / COUNTIFS – Count with conditions
Example: =COUNTIF(A:A,"Yes")
Modern Dynamic Array Formulas (Excel 365 / 2026 Skills)
14. FILTER – Extract rows meeting conditions
Example: =FILTER(A2:B10,B2:B10="Yes")
15. UNIQUE – Removes duplicates automatically
Example: =UNIQUE(A2:A10)
16. SORT / SORTBY – Dynamic sorting
Example: =SORT(A2:B10,2,TRUE)
17. SEQUENCE – Generates number sequences
Example: =SEQUENCE(5,1,1,1)
Text & Data Cleaning Formulas
18. TEXTJOIN / CONCAT – Combine text
Example: =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A1:A5)
19. TRIM – Removes extra spaces
Example: =TRIM(A1)
Advanced Modern Excel Formulas (Pro Level)
20. LET / LAMBDA – Create reusable logic and custom formulas
These allow programming-style formula creation inside Excel.
Why These 20 Matter in 2026
Learning essential Excel formulas can save hours weekly, reduce manual errors, and improve productivity across industries.
Excel is evolving into a data automation and analytics platform, so knowing both traditional and modern functions is critical.
Quick Learning Priority (If You Are Beginner → Advanced)
Beginner:
SUM, AVERAGE, IF, COUNT, MAX, MIN
Intermediate:
VLOOKUP, SUMIF, COUNTIF, INDEX + MATCH
Advanced (2026 Skills):
XLOOKUP, FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT, LET, LAMBDA
