How to return the column header of the lowest value in a row in Excel

Q: How do I list every supplier tied for the lowest price?

Filter the headers: =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,FILTER(B$1:D$1,B2:D2=MIN(B2:D2))).

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=XLOOKUP(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,B$1:D$1)

Look up the row's minimum in the row and return the header above it: =XLOOKUP(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,B$1:D$1).

Result on the example: one result per row in E2, filled down to E6
Works in: Excel 2021, 2024 and Microsoft 365
Google Sheets: Same formula

See it work

The formula is already in E2, filled down to E6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

MIN finds the lowest price in the row, $39.90 for copy paper. XLOOKUP looks for that price across B2:D2 and returns the header in the same column of B$1:D$1. The $ keeps the header row fixed while the rows change.

=XLOOKUP(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,B$1:D$1)

Result"BrightCo"

B2:D21 row × 3 cols: $42.50, $39.90, $44.25
A range: 3 cells in one row.
MIN(B2:D2)39.9
MIN: Smallest number.
- number1B2:D21 row × 3 cols: $42.50, $39.90, $44.25
B$1:D$11 row × 3 cols: "Acme Supply", "BrightCo", "Corvex"
A range: 3 cells in one row.
XLOOKUP(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,B$1:D$1)"BrightCo"
XLOOKUP: Searches one range and returns the matching item from another.
- lookup_valueMIN(B2:D2)39.9
- lookup_arrayB2:D21 row × 3 cols: $42.50, $39.90, $44.25
- return_arrayB$1:D$11 row × 3 cols: "Acme Supply", "BrightCo", "Corvex"

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =XLOOKUP(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,B$1:D$1). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.

Other ways to do it

Each one was run on the same example sheet.

Formula	Result	When to use it
=INDEX(B$1:D$1,MATCH(MIN(B2:D2),B2:D2,0))	BrightCo, Corvex, BrightCo…	Works in every Excel version.

Common mistakes

Ties return the first supplier from the left.
MIN skips blank cells, so a supplier that doesn't carry the item is ignored. A price of 0 is not skipped and would win.

Try it yourself

Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.

Return the column header of the lowest value in a row

In E2, return the name of the supplier (from row 1) with the lowest price for the item, then fill down to E6.

Questions

How do I return the header of the highest value?

Use MAX instead of MIN.

How do I list every supplier tied for the lowest price?

Filter the headers: =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,FILTER(B$1:D$1,B2:D2=MIN(B2:D2))).

Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.